London (CNN) –“Our identity is intensity.”
It could seem like a line from Liverpool’s’80s anthem”Anfield Rap,” however, it had been the mantra of manager Jurgen Klopp following his negative inflicted a 3-1 defeat on rivals Arsenal on Saturday to move clear at the peak of the English Premier League.
Arsenal’s defense was peppered and pressured as Liverpool’s three-pronged assault of Sadio Mane Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino pushed and probed in another Anfield thriller involving the 2 sides.
“It was a performance full of power, full of vitality, filled with jealousy, filled with passion which you need against such a good team such as Arsenal,” Klopp told broadcaster Sky Sports.
“The work rate of these boys is exceptional. Our individuality is intensity and that is the way the boys showed up today.
“It is our fifth game (of the season) already. What we did at the initial games we did longer and more exactly.”
Having a glittering front line but question marks over their shield, there was a small irony that a defender started the scoring for Liverpool.
Joel Matip jumped clear of the Arsenal back line — which was too busy trying out the defensive partner Virgil van Dijk of Matip — to head in just before halftime.
Salah added a second with an rocket after David Luiz was punished for tugging the Egyptian’s shirt when he was on the movement from the box.
READ: Mohamed Salah warns VAR will acquire penalties to him
The punishment gave extra impetus and Salah conducted apparent to put in a third goal with a sensational solo effort.
“The boys play with wonderful goals,” Klopp additional. “The first one was a sensational set piece. The conclusion about the punishment was absolutely obvious, everybody could see there was a shirt where it should not be, then Mo’s next target was incredible.”
The penalty came just two minutes into the second half and effectively snuffed from the prospect of a Arsenal fightback.
‘Can not help himself’
Luiz, a pragmatic summertime move made to shore up Arsenal’s shield, surrendered the punishment with an grab of Salah’s shirt.
“He simply can’t help himself!” Sky Sports were commented on by Manchester United defender Gary Neville.
Luiz called the episode”a ” and went on to argue that officials aren’t able to evaluate the power of their pull and that Salah told him following the final whistle which he did not believe anything.
“Using VAR (video assistant referees), it is difficult for them to observe that the electricity,” said Luiz. “If you see the shirt moving like that it is problematic for the referees to say it is not a punishment.
“If you play an extra shirt today it might be a punishment every time. It is interpretation.
“Mo-Mo is my friend and he stated he didn’t believe… but football is like this.”
‘Special talent’
Regardless of the dizzying Liverpool surge, Arsenal added a late goal to deny that the Reds a sheet and maintained their heads.
The London club remain next in the table, three points behind Liverpool.
For Arsenal fans seeking to take consolation from a different Anfield conquer that was heavy, it came in the shape of Nicolas Pepe.
Arsenal’s record signing — that joined the Gunners for a reported 72 million pounds ($88 million) earlier this month — made a confident introduction, showing speed to rival Liverpool superstar Salah.
READ: Premier League clubs invest $1.7 billion in summer transfer window
“They’ve got a special gift in Pepe,” former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports. “I’ve been so impressed by him. He has been magnificent. He has that blistering pace that defenders despise”
“When he carries on like that, he’ll score many goals for Arsenal.”
Unai Emery could have expected Pepe might have done that with the new Premier League season only three matches older, although at Anfield, conquer wasn’t difficult for the Arsenal boss to swallow.
“The first half has been maybe the ideal chance for people with Pepe, however after their aim it was not easy,” Emery said. “The secret was that the second goal, that punishment was very soft.
“But our response afterwards was good. We continued performing our work. … I feel some gamers will seem (and think) they took yet another step here today.
“After we finished 3-1 compelling, that is the soul we want.”
This fixture has produced some classic encounters and is your highest-scoring in the background of the Premier League — before Saturday’s clash, both sides had clocked up 155 goals along with a listing six hat tricks.
But there are still scores while Liverpool walk on — to settle at Anfield.
Read more: playoff odds
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