Senegal’s Sadio Mane was on the score sheet again for Liverpool as they came from a goal down to beat Arsenal 3-1 at Anfield.
The 28-year-old, who scored both goals for the Reds in their 2-0 win against Chelsea in their second league game of season, grabbed his third of the campaign to draw Liverpool level at 1-1 in the 28th minute with a tap in from close range after Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno had pushed a shot from Egypt’s Mohamed Salah into his path.
Arsenal had gone ahead three minutes earlier with striker Alexandre Lacazette capitalizing on an error in the box by Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson to score for the Gunners.
But Robertson made amends in the 35th minute to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead after connecting to a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross.
And in the 88th minute, Diego Jota – Liverpool’s £45m new signing from Wolves – came on as a substitute to score on his home debut, firing a low shot beyond Leno to the bottom corner.
The game which saw five Africans starting – Salah, Mane, and Keita for Liverpool, with Aubameyang and Elneny for Arsenal – also had Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe brought on for the visitors in the 68th minute as replacement for Willian.
It was also a quite night for Arsenal’s Gabonese captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had little action in front of goal. And Lacazatte missing two great chances with Arsenal trailing 2-1in the second period – both ending with tame attempts to the hands of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Both teams will square up again at the same venue on Thursday night in a Carabao Cup fourth round fixture.
