Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool ran out 3-1 winner over Arsenal.

Joel Matip had opened the scored during an evenly-matched first half between the sides with a bullet header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner.

But the Reds’ dominance grew after the interval with Salah doubling the lead from a penalty awarded when David Luiz pulled back the Egyptian by his shirt.

Less than 10 minutes later, last season’s Golden Boot winner recorded his second with a brilliant run and slotted finish to put Jurgen Klopp’s side further ahead.

Substitute Lucas Torreira pulled back a consolation for the Gunners just one minute from the end of normal time courtesy of a close-range finish.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Gunners no match for Reds’ armoury

 

Six years on, John W Henry’s infamous tweet about Arsenal still rings true.

Liverpool’s owner asked Twitter: ‘What are they smoking over there at the Emirates?’ – and the questions seems equally applicable after this encounter.

Had you believed the giddy early-season narrative, the Gunners’ forward line will eclipse their opposite number at Anfield in cumulative goals and performances.

No one can dispute that Nicolas Pepe has improved Unai Emery’s side, and he regularly caused the Reds’ defence problems during an evenly-matched first half.

But a cursory glance at the score line tells everything that you need to know.

Mohamed Salah may steal the headlines, yet Liverpool’s front three were back to their fearsome best despite the Egyptian taking a lion’s share of the goals.

Imitators beware, Liverpool’s personal arsenal remains the real McCoy.

Another milestone for Klopp’s historians

 

This is the most formidable Liverpool team since 1990 – and history proves it.

Already the most emphatic runners-up in the Premier League’s existence, Jurgen Klopp’s players seem to break new frontiers on an almost weekly basis.

A 13th successive league victory equalled the same stretch of games that coincided with Anfield’s last spell as English champions almost 30 years ago.

Another against Burnley next weekend would be unparalleled and befitting of the strides that the European champions have taken under Klopp’s tutelage.

It is further testament to the Liverpool manager’s work that Arsenal surrendered their own 100 per cent start to the season so willfully in the second half.

The Anfield crowd’s noise levels appeared to be raised to another level here. Even they can sense that something truly remarkable is currently unfolding.

Adrian channels the spirit of Karius

 

When Adrian moved to the red half Merseyside earlier this summer, it was under the guise of being a like-for-like replacement to the outgoing Simon Mignolet.

In reality, Liverpool appear to have signed a fractional upgrade on Loris Karius.

A vital save in the Super Cup penalty shoot-out aside, the Spaniard has done little to inspire confidence that he can hold the fort during Alisson’s absence.

Last weekend’s gifted goal to Southampton was almost multiplied when a failed outfield clearance went straight into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Fortunately for Liverpool’s understudy stopper, the Arsenal striker’s hooked effort missed the gaping goalmouth at a time when the game was still finely poised.

Such carelessness became a regular theme during Karius’ ill-fated spell in between the sticks albeit with far more footwork than the German attempted.

Alisson’s return simply cannot come quick enough.

Van Dijk is invincible no more

 

It is a statistic which has been a great source of pride for Kopites.

No opposition player could dribble through Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman was an uncompromising presence in defence that became near-impossible to bypass.

After 17 months and 50 games, however, the PFA Player of the Year succumbed to a rare bout of mortality with Pepe’s slaloming run during the opening stages.

The Ivorian cost £3 million shy of Van Dijk’s own transfer fee and Arsenal saw an early return on their investment with a new-found personal distinction.

Few players will be able to emulate Pepe’s first-half feat this season but it proves that, for all his brilliance, even Van Dijk is capable of being caught out.