London: Mohamed Salah’s strike ensured an underpowered Liverpool maintain their perfect early-season record with a 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield, Saturday.
Salah, the league’s top scorer last year, scored the first half winner to send Liverpool atop the table while champions Manchester City’s title defence was halted by a 1-1 draw at newcomers Wolverhampton. Arsenal also earned their first win under new coach Unai Emery, a 3-1 victory over West Ham United.
In a day when the Reds looked lacklusture, Salah demonstrated the clinical edge with his slide rule left-foot finish handing the edge to Liverpool in the 23rd minute.
City, who won their first two games of the season in fine style, again largely controlled affairs against Championship winners Wolves at Molineux but still had to come from behind to earn a point against Nuno Espirito Santo’s impressive side.
Wolves had gone ahead fortuitously in the 57th minute when Willy Boly’s diving header actually going in off his arm only for Aymeric Laporte to equalise with a header 12 minutes later, his first goal for City.
Arsenal prevailed after two defeats under Emery but only after Marko Arnautovic’s (25th minute) first half goal for West Ham prompted brief thoughts that the home side might lose their first three league matches of the season for the first time since 1954-55.
The Gunners, responded quickly with a goal from Nacho Monreal five minutes later, before a second half own goal from Issa Diop (70th) and a Danny Welbeck strike in injury time left the Hammers still searching for a first point under new boss Manuel Pellegrini.