MY ACCOUNT
Liverpool were in typically ruthless form on Saturday as they brushed aside Southampton 4-0 at Anfield.
The result meant Jurgen Klopp’s men became just the second English top-flight team to score two or more goals in 17 consecutive games in all competitions, after Sunderland in 1927.
Elsewhere, rock-bottom Newcastle United’s winless start to the Premier League season continued as they were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
Steven Gerrard secured his second consecutive win since taking over as Aston Villa boss, with his side sealing a 2-1 away win at Crystal Palace.
Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United played out a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium, as did Norwich City and Wolves at Carrow Road.
Here, Stats Perform looks through the pick of Saturday’s Opta facts…
Liverpool 4-0 Southampton:Jota at the double for rampant Reds
Liverpool have now scored 39 goals in their 13 Premier League games this season – their highest total at this stage of a top-flight campaign.
Diogo Jota got them on the way with their earliest goal in the Premier League (one minute and 37 seconds) since Naby Keita netted against Huddersfield Town in April 2019 (15 seconds).
Another from Jota and a strike from Thiago Alcantara put Liverpool 3-0 up at the break, before Virgil van Dijk rounded off the scoring early in the second half.
Netherlands international Van Dijk’s goal was created by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who earned his 40th Premier League assist. Only Wayne Rooney (22 years and 200 days) and Cesc Fabregas (21y 188d) have reached such an assists total in the competition at a younger age than the Liverpool right-back (23y 51d).
Salah reached 150 Premier League goal involvements by setting up Jota’s second, reaching that total (108 goals, 42 assists) in just 171 games. Only Alan Shearer (148 games) and Thierry Henry (163) have got there in fewer games.
Southampton, meanwhile, have lost more away games (14) and conceded more away goals (47) than any other side in the Premier League side this calendar year.
Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United: Gunners cruise against Howe’s beleaguered men
The Gunners continued their fine home form under Mikel Arteta with a routine win against Eddie Howe’s struggling side.
Since Arteta’s first home game in charge in December 2019, only Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea have won more points at home in the Premier League than Arsenal (67).
Bukayo Saka got them on their way before Gabriel Martinelli added a second just 93 seconds after coming on as a substitute. It was just Martinelli’s second Premier League goal at the Emirates Stadium and his first since January 2020 against Sheffield United.
The Magpies, meanwhile, became the sixth different team to fail to win any of their opening 13 games to a Premier League season, with four of the previous five sides suffering relegation (only Derby County in 2000-01 survived).
Crystal Palace 1-2 Aston Villa: Gerrard’s winning start continues
This victory meant former Rangers boss Gerrard became only the second manager to win his first two Premier League games in charge of Villa, after John Gregory in February-March 1998.
Matt Targett scored the opener for Villa with his first Premier League goal in his last 75 appearances in the competition, the full-back having not netted since getting a late winner against Brighton in October 2019.
John McGinn then added a second, the Scotland international already equalling his best goal tally for a full Premier League season (three in both 2020-21 and 2019-20).
Marc Guehi pulled one back in stoppage time, but it was too late to prevent the Eagles suffering a first defeat in their last eight Premier League games (W2 D5), since a 3-0 away loss to Liverpool in September.
Norwich City 0-0 Wolves: Smith maintains unbeaten start
Dean Smith followed up a win in his first game in charge of the Canaries last weekend with a hard-fought point at home.
Norwich have now taken seven points from their last three Premier League games (W2 D1), more than they had in their previous 25 in the competition (W1 D3 L21).
The Canaries have also kept two clean sheets in their last four Premier League home games – as many as in their previous 26 at Carrow Road in the competition.
It is perhaps no surprise they could not find a way past Wolves, with only Chelsea (five) and Liverpool (four) keeping more away clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Bruno Lage’s men (three).
