Page 3 - 3 reasons why Liverpool beat Arsenal 3-1

#1 Liverpool overload, Mane and Salah prove too hot to handle

Despite no goal or assist for Mane, he proved a real handful for an Arsenal side who struggled to cope

Well, Arsenal knew they were in for a hard challenge but this proved one too much for Unai Emery's men. That was quickly apparent from the opening ten minutes. Sitting deep, the Gunners soaked up the pressure and despite looking threatening on counter-attacking moves, there wasn't much of a structure to their attacks. That made things easier to deal with from a defensive perspective, for a Liverpool backline who still have their doubts after conceding chances aplenty in recent weeks.

They were overloaded on both flanks with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold delivering a number of teasing crosses. On another day, the Reds would have easily doubled their scoreline just from the pair's opportunities alone.

It resembled somewhat of a training exercise and seemed all too easy for the hosts, who were only truly in trouble for a ten-minute spell midway through the first half and again once the game was dead and buried late on.

Despite his brace, Mohamed Salah is notorious for blowing hot and cold: unselfish and wasteful at times, but ruthless at other points too once he gets going. Regardless, you cannot afford to gift him the opportunities Arsenal did.

The same goes with Sadio Mane, who provided an ever-present threat down the flank in 75 minutes. Four key passes and tackles won, the Senegal international also won nine duels and probably should've headed Liverpool into a two-goal advantage before half-time.

Ultimately, the better side prevailed. Arsenal played straight into their hands and clearly didn't do their homework.