Liverpool claimed their first win of the season, beating AFC Bournemouth 3-1, but it was not plain sailing and they left Anfield with concerns over the fitness of a number of players.
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A shaky start from Liverpool was punished by Bournemouth as Antoine Semenyo gave the visitors a shock third-minute lead, profiting from a loose Trent Alexander-Arnold pass.
Liverpool found a way to break early Bournemouth’s resistance when an acrobatic finish from Luis Diaz brought them level.
Eight minutes later Mohamed Salah put the Reds in front after they were awarded a penalty, Joe Rothwell being adjudged to have fouled Dominik Szoboszlai.
For the third time in his last five spot kicks Salah failed to convert from 12 yards, his fierce effort being parried by Neto. But fortunately for the Egyptian, the ball came back for him to convert at the second time of asking.
It was the first time Salah has scored in the second Matchweek of a season and it marked his 200th goal involvement in the Premier League, scoring 160 times and assisting 40 strikes.
Liverpool were dealt a blow in the second half when Alexis Mac Allister was handed a straight red card for a reckless high challenge on Ryan Christie.
However, four minutes after being reduced to 10 men, Diogo Jota doubled Liverpool’s lead and eased the home fans’ nerves when he followed up after Szoboszlai’s deflected shot was spilled by Neto.
Further concern for Jurgen Klopp was the sight of Alexander-Arnold and Diaz limping off before the end ahead of a trip to Newcastle United next weekend.
See: Spurs hand dream home start to Postecoglou
Brighton hit four again
Brighton & Hove Albion won 4-1 for the second match of the season as they handed Wolverhampton Wanderers a chastening defeat in their first home match of the season to go top of the top flight overnight, the first time they have done so in their history.
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Kaoru Mitoma put Brighton in front on the quarter-hour in spectacular fashion, weaving his way through the Wolves defence at speed before slotting past Jose Sa.
Fabio Silva was denied an equaliser by the outstretched foot of Jason Steele when put through on goal, but from then on it was one-way traffic for the away side.
Within 41 seconds of the start of the second half, Brighton doubled their advantage when Pervis Estupinan converted Mitoma’s cross.
Solly March struck twice, both from close range, and both thanks to Julio Enciso assists, which took the winger to three goals this season.
Wolves got a goal back through Hwang Hee-chan’s header at a corner that crept into the far corner but could do no more and had Matheus Nunes sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time.
Brentford claim west London bragging rights
Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo both scored for the second match running as Brentford claimed west London derby honours at Fulham with an emphatic 3-0 win.
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After both forwards had hit the back of the net in the 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur last week, Wissa handed Brentford the lead at Craven Cottage a minute before half-time, pouncing on a loose pass by Fulham defender Issa Diop to round Bernd Leno and score his second goal of the season.
Fulham, whose leading goalscorer Aleksandar Mitrovic was omitted from the squad amid reports that he is close to a move to Saudi Arabia, came near to an equaliser when Bobby De Cordova-Reid hit the bar early into the second half.
But things got worse for the home side midway through the second half when Tim Ream conceded a penalty that Mbeumo converted to make it 2-0. To add to his woes, Ream was handed a second yellow card for the foul and had to leave the pitch.
Mbeumo got his second thanks to a fantastic team move that started in the Bees’ area, with Kristoffer Ajer and Rico Henry combining down the right before the former crossed to give Mbeumo an easy finish.
