Good afternoon! What a treat we have for you on this sunny day as the Premier League's only two remaining perfect teams go head to head at Anfield, with
Liverpool hosting
Arsenal!
Both teams have looked dangerous going forward but far from perfect at the back so far this term, so we should expect goals galore today - something this fixture usually guarantees anyway. At least one of the 100% records must end today, but whose will it be?
Kickoff is just five minutes away, so let's have a look at the team news first and foremost...
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
SUBS: Milner, Origi, Kelleher, Gomez, Shaqiri, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Sokratis, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock; Pepe, Aubameyang, Ceballos
SUBS: Mkhitaryan, Lacazette, Torreira, Martinez, Nelson, Kolasinac, Chambers
KICKOFF: Here we go! Liverpool get us underway after a particularly rousing rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone!
It looks like two up front for Arsenal - Aubameyang and Pepe, with Ceballos tucking in just behind them.
CLOSE! Liverpool immediately burst forward through Robertson down the left and he drills a low ball into the box which is just too far in front of Firmino and goes a few yards wide of the target.
There is a cracking atmosphere inside Anfield today, and Liverpool are looking to match that on the field. They have wasted no time in getting into this Arsenal team with a quick start.
Liverpool switch the ball quickly which allows Salah to clip a ball into the box, but Henderson's nod down is just too far in front of Firmino again. Arsenal cannot get out at the moment.
There has been just 1% of the play in Liverpool's third during this opening five minutes or so. It has been one-way traffic so far, with Liverpool swarming all over Arsenal.
Pepe manages to get past Van Dijk before racing forward, but he then leaves the ball behind and Robertson gets a foot in. It's not often you get past Van Dijk so you need to make the most of it when it does happen!
Liverpool's full-backs may get a lot of joy if the early stages are anything to go by. Arsenal are playing a narrow diamond in midfield so Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have acres of space down the wings.
CHANCE! Half a chance for Liverpool as Wijnaldum tries to make something of a poor Alexander-Arnold corner, with his flicks still falling kindly for himself only to then snatch at a second effort and slice it well off target.
CLOSE! Arsenal almost take the lead completely against the run of play through another mistake from Adrian. Aubameyang tries to put the ball through to Pepe, but Van Dijk has it under control before Adrian comes storming out of his goal. His clearance goes straight to Aubameyang, who tries to loft it into the empty net, but it drops just wide of the post.
That may be Arsenal's big hope today - waiting for Robertson and Alexander-Arnold to commit themselves and then leaving two against two up front. It is a risky strategy, but one which almost paid off then.
Arsenal have just been able to stem the tide a little in the last few minutes and they are beginning to grow into the game a bit more now.
To showcase that point, Arsenal have had 62% possession in the last five minutes. They could barely get a kick in the opening 10 minutes, so this has been much better from the visitors.
SAVE! Again Arsenal look to hit Liverpool on the break when winning the ball back, with Pepe cutting inside before seeing his long-range effort comfortably saved by Adrian.
CHANCE! Big chance for Liverpool as Arsenal almost shoot themselves in the foot, with Ceballos playing the ball into his own area and giving it straight to Mane. The Liverpool striker has time to take a touch before getting his shot away, but Leno makes the save.
Robertson comes forward again for Liverpool and flashes a beauty of a low cross into the box which goes right across the face of goal.
Firmino skips into shooting space with a lovely change of direction before letting fly, but his effort is blocked.
SHOT! Another switch of play from full-back to full-back and then Robertson nods it back to Mane. The in-form winger feels it is worth a go from range, but his effort is a long way high and wide.
Liverpool again keep Arsenal pinned right back into their own third until the visitors hack it clear, although that also always has the danger of releasing Pepe. This is a finely-poised match - Liverpool are in control but both sides look dangerous.
We're approaching the half-hour mark now and the match has been played at a brilliant pace so far. Arsenal could do with some more prolonged possession having been chasing the ball most of this match so far.
This happened earlier today, by the way. FIFTY matches without being dribbled past - incredible...
CLOSE! Pepe has looked the most dangerous Arsenal player so far, and he almost gives them the lead here. It is a good move from the Gunners with Willock and Aubameyang both involved in working the ball to Pepe, who curls one a yard or so wide of the top corner from outside the area. That was not far away!
Henderson tries to whip another first-time cross into the box which takes a deflection and flashes over, with Leno beaten had it gone on target.
We have a VAR check for a potential red card - I suspect for an incident when Salah just went to ground inside the box from a cross. There didn't appear to be much in it at all, though, and confusion reigns inside Anfield.
CHANCE! Arsenal deal with the corner when it eventually does arrive and Pepe bursts forward on the counter to create a golden chance. He skips past Robertson to leave himself with only Adrian to beat, but he puts his finish straight at the Liverpool keeper! That should have been 1-0 to the Arsenal!
It isn't a criticism you can level at Alexander-Arnold too often, but his crossing has been a bit off today. He has had 10 crosses already - his joint-most ever in a Premier League game - but none of them have caused Arsenal huge problems so far.
Arsenal's game plan is a risky one here, but it has also worked in this first half. It is a fascinating contest between these two dangerous attacking outfits.
CLOSE! Salah almost provides the opener as he spins away from the close marking of Xhaka before getting a shot away on the turn which flashes a yared or so wide of the far post.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 ARSENAL (JOEL MATIP)
© Reuters
GOAL! Liverpool make the breakthrough, and it is a brilliant header from
Joel Matip which opens the scoring!
Alexander-Arnold does get a delivery on the money this time, swinging in a corner which Matip meets with a powerful effort which beats Leno and slams into the top corner!
Arsenal would have been desperate to reach half time all square, but they have been undone by a set piece with the defence seemingly more focused on Van Dijk than his defensive partner.
Liverpool's front three are really causing Arsenal problems now, with Salah, Mane and Firmino all breaking into the box with cute little passes since the goal. Arsenal are hanging on here.
CHANCE! Big chance for Liverpool to get the second before half time as Mane finds himself unmarked from a corner, rising to meet the header but getting it wrong and sending it off target.
We will have two minutes of added time at the end of this first half, by the way.
HALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 ARSENAL
The first half comes to an end at Anfield and it is Liverpool who have the lead at the interval following a captivating first half which leaves things very finely poised for the second 45 minutes.
Liverpool have seen the vast majority of possession and territory, but Arsenal have looked dangerous on the break and could easily be level at the break had they taken their chances.
The only goal of the game so far came via the rather unlikely route of Joel Matip, although it was no surprise to see it come from a cross into the box with Liverpool delivering 24 of those in that opening 45 minutes.
This time it came from a corner, which Matip attacked really well to power into the top corner while Arsenal's defenders were too busy trying to thwart Van Dijk's threat.
Arsenal have arguably created the game's best chances, though, and Liverpool have been fortunate not to be punished a couple of times on the break.
The very best opening for the visitors fell the way of Pepe, who led a quick break, skipped away from Robertson and then put his finish straight at Adrian when he only had the keeper to beat. Pepe has also flashed a fine effort narrowly wide of the top corner and drawn another save from Adrian, while Aubameyang has come close to taking advantage of a rash piece of goalkeeping from Adrian.
Arsenal will still feel as though there is something in this game for them, then, but Liverpool have also looked dangerous on a consistent basis and the full-backs in particular have seen plenty of the ball.
If the hosts can make more of that avenue then there are plenty more goals in this one for them.
KICKOFF: Arsenal get us back underway for the second half at Anfield!
PENALTY! Liverpool have a penalty as David Luiz is penalised for tugging the shirt of Salah! Salah stayed on his feet, but that was obvious and Luiz picks up a booking for his troubles!
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 ARSENAL (MOHAMED SALAH, PENALTY)
© Reuters
GOAL! You won't see many better penalties than that! Leno goes the wrong way, but even if he had guessed the right way he had no chance of saving it as Salah puts it right into the top corner with power - a perfect penalty.
David Luiz with a very 'David Luiz moment' to concede the spot kick.
It looks like a long way back for Arsenal now. Liverpool are yet to keep a clean sheet this season so there is still hope, particularly after their first-half threat, but it is a big ask.
CHANCE! What a chance for Arsenal to pull one back immediately as he is played through by Pepe, suddenly finding himself with only the keeper to beat. However, he takes too long over his finish and Matip gets back to make a brilliant saving challenge. The flag stayed down, but VAR may have ruled it out for offside anyway.
CHANCE! Liverpool are all over Arsenal now! A low ball into the box causes problems and is only cleared as far as Alexander-Arnold, who takes his time before blasting a shot at goal which Sokratis throws himself in the way of.
CHANCE! Robertson delivers another cross from the left and this time it is Salah who gets his head to it, but he nods it over when he perhaps should have done better.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 ARSENAL (MOHAMED SALAH)
GOAL! Liverpool are running riot now, and Salah is leading the charge. This is a stunner from the Egyptian as he makes it 3-0 and surely game over at Anfield!
Salah collects the ball before skipping past Luiz all too easily and racing into the box. He gets in front of Monreal and then curls a low finish into the bottom corner - brilliant solo goal.
Some record from the Egyptian King...
ARSENAL SUB: Unai Emery has seen enough here and on comes
Lucas Torreira for Ceballos in an effort to stem the tide.
SAVE! Liverpool don't look in any mood to settle for two goals here. They pounce on Arsenal inside their own half again and work the ball to Firmino, who draws a save from Leno at the near post.
Almost a chance for Arsenal to give themselves perhaps a glimmer of hope as Monreal gets up well inside the box and glances a header to the back post, where it hits Alexander-Arnold and goes behind for another corner.
We've still got well over 20 minutes remaining here, but already Arsenal will be praying for the final whistle. Liverpool are on the hunt for more goals and I would not bet against them getting some.
Liverpool have been much better defensively in this second half and look in complete control of this game now. The quick goals either side of half time have really changed this match.
LIVERPOOL SUB: WIjnaldum earns a big bear hug from
Jurgen Klopp as he comes off to be replaced by James Milner.
Salah bursts forward again before unselfishly looking to play the ball across for Mane, but it is blocked by a sliding Arsenal defender.
Henderson stabs the ball through to Firmino, who tries to feed a pass of his own for Salah which Leno comes out to gather.
Liverpool have understandably taken their foot off the pedal a little now, but they are still in complete control of this contest as they patiently probe for a way through.
Aubameyang almost gets in behind the Liverpool defence, but the ball skips away from him and the flag is up anyway.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will get a run-out against his former club here as he replaces Mane.
Just 10 minutes left until Arsenal are put out of their misery. The visitors have tried their best today and things could have been different had Pepe taken that chance in the first half, but ultimately there has been a gulf in class between the two sides.
ARSENAL SUB: Change for Arsenal here as Alexandre Lacazette comes on in place of Willock.
Firmino goes spins away inside the area before Xhaka gets across him, but the referee says no and VAR agrees. Not enough in that for a penalty.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-1 ARSENAL (LUCAS TORREIRA)
GOAL! No clean sheet for Liverpool again as Torreira pulls one back, tucking the ball into the bottom corner after it broke kindly to him inside the area.
Aubameyang teed the diminutive midfielder up inside the box and Henderson initially got back to deny the first effort before he fired a second past Adrian.
ARSENAL SUB: Arsenal make a change in the aftermath of that goal, with Guendouzi being replaced by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool also make their third and final change, with Adam Lallana replacing Firmino.
A bit of pressure coming from Arsenal now. If they get another goal here things could get interesting, but they have surely left things too late here.
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.
YELLOW CARD! Fabinho picks up a late yellow card for Liverpool.
Luiz goes for goal from the resulting free kick, but fires it well off target.
FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 3-1 ARSENAL
It's all over at Anfield and Liverpool are the last team standing with a 100% record after three games of the new Premier League season courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Arsenal at Anfield.
It could have been different had Arsenal taken their chances in the first half, but Joel Matip's header just before half time and a Mo Salah brace after the interval took the game away from the Gunners.
Lucas Torreira did pull a goal back late on for Arsenal, but it was too little too late and Liverpool deserved a club-record equalling 12th successive top-flight win.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's late kickoff as Liverpool become the first home team to win in the Premier League today, moving three points clear at the top of the table in the process.
I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
