The Reds preserved their 100% start to the Premier League season as Mohamed Salah scored twice to add to Joel Matip's first-half header in a dominant performance at Anfield.
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| Salah converted from the penalty spot to double Liverpool's lead |
Joel Matip's header late in the first half gave the home side the lead before Mohamed Salah took the game away from the Gunners with two goals early in the second period.
The Gunners had their chances in the first half with Nicolas Pepe, on full debut, spurning a one-on-one chance with the score still goalless.
And any hopes manager Unai Emery had of watching his side mount a recovery were snuffed out in the 49th minute after a moment of madness from new signing David Luiz, who needlessly dragged Salah back in the area.
Liverpool's Egyptian attacker drilled home the penalty and then embarrassed Luiz again out on the touchline at the start of a dazzling run that ended with a low, curling finish into the bottom corner just before the hour.
Arsenal substitute Lucas Torreira pulled one back late on, but nothing was getting in the way of Liverpool's 12th successive league victory, equalling their best sequence in the top flight under Kenny Dalglish between April and October 1990.
Salah's finish from the spot was emphatic but it was nowhere near as spectacular as his second that extended Liverpool's lead just before the hour mark.
The Egypt international skipped clear of David Luiz in the right channel and powered through on goal before tucking the ball into the far corner of Bernd Leno's net with his famed left foot.
From that point onwards, it was about damage limitation for Arsenal as Liverpool went in search of repeating the five-goal haul that they achieved in this fixture last season.
Emery will be encouraged Torreira was able to tuck one away with five minutes to go to restore some pride but this was Liverpool's day. No clean sheet but three big points.
TEAM NEWS
Fabinho and Jordan Henderson returned to the Liverpool line-up to face Arsenal, replacing James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Arsenal brought in Nicolas Pepe for his first start with Alexandre Lacazette dropping out. Granit Xhaka also came in for Reiss Nelson.
MANAGERS COMMENTS
Jurgen Klopp:
"It was an outstanding performance full of power, full of energy, full of passion. I think that's what you need to have against a good team like Arsenal.
"We were a bit surprised by the system that they played. We couldn't prepare for that - that they would play a diamond. But we adapted to that and had constant crosses.
"Overall, we were really in charge of the game. We should have controlled it better, should have kept the ball better, because they didn't attack us really.
"We are not Disneyland. We don't have to excite everyone in every section of the game. It was intense so the decision-making could have been better.
"But apart from the really big chance they had where Hendo (Jordan Henderson) missed the pass and there was a sensational save from Adrian I was really happy with the game. We completely deserved it."
Unai Emery:
"We made the first half thinking that we could have space on the transition and we made that. We had chances to score.
"Afterwards, we wanted to counter more with the ball, breaking their pressing, but we struggle because they are a very big team at doing that.
"We did defend deep but it was not without the possibility to score. In the first half, maybe the best chance was for us with [Nicolas] Pepe.
The key was the second goal. But afterwards our reaction was good because we kept doing our work. The impact of the substitutes was good.
"Some players like [Joe] Willock also took a good step today. I can be positive about that. We finished 3-1 but also pushing and that is the spirit that I want."
OPTA STATS
Liverpool have won 12 consecutive Premier League games, their best-ever winning streak in the competition.
Since Jurgen Klopp took over in October 2015, Liverpool have scored 26 goals in eight Premier League games against Arsenal - the most one side has netted against another in the competition in that period.
Only Everton at Arsenal (64) have conceded more away goals against a single opponent in the Premier League than Arsenal at Liverpool (62).
Arsenal have now failed to win any of their last 23 away league games against fellow big-six sides - during this run they have conceded 53 goals while keeping just one clean sheet.
WHAT NEXT?
Liverpool now go to Burnley on Saturday Night Football at 5.30pm, while Arsenal host Tottenham in the north London derby on Super Sunday, live at 4.30pm, with Jose Mourinho in the studio from 1pm.
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