Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has scored his 100th goal for the club to help secure a 3-0 victory over lively Crystal Palace in an entertaining Premier League contest at Anfield.
Mane turned the ball in from close range just before halftime, as he claimed a Premier League record for the most consecutive goals against one club with his ninth versus Palace. He has 10 in all competitions against the London club.
Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita, with a superb volley, added late strikes to give the scoreline an emphatic look, after the home fans had earlier been left aghast over forward Diogo Jota's early contender for miss of the season.
Liverpool provisionally move top of the table with 13 points from their opening five matches, although they have played a game more than most of their title rivals, while Palace are in 13th place with one victory so far in this campaign.
Mane brought up his century of goals for the Reds in all competitions - the 18th player to do so - when Salah's header was pushed into his path by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita to give him an easy finish from close range after 43 minutes.
The goal followed a shocking miss by Jota from a similar situation, as Thiago Alcantara's header was only parried to the forward by Guaita, but with the goal at his mercy, the Portugal international blazed over the bar from two yards.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have been held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Southampton in the Premier League, despite being handed a reprieve by the video referee that saw Kyle Walker's red card overturned.
After an uneventful first half, when City were well below par, Southampton thought they had a golden chance to edge in front early in the second period, as they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Adam Armstrong.
To make matters worse for City, Walker was sent off for the foul, but referee Jon Moss overturned both the red card and the awarding of the spot kick, after video referee intervention.
Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden were both summoned from the bench, as City pressed for a winner, which they thought they had grabbed at the death through Raheem Sterling, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The result means City fall three points behind leaders Liverpool in second place, ahead of third-placed Manchester United, who are in action at West Ham United on Monday (NZ time), on goal difference.
Southampton's fourth draw from five league matches this season keeps them 15th.
Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard's 30th minute free-kick has earned Arsenal their second win of the Premier League season, with a 1-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor.
The Norwegian midfielder curled the ball beautifully into the top corner of Nick Pope's goal, helping take Mikel Arteta's side on to six points.
The Gunners had to survive pressure from Burnley after the break and had a scare, when referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty, after Burnley sub Matej Vydra went down under a challenge from Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
But when the video referee intervened, Taylor went to the pitchside monitor and overturned his decision, after seeing footage showing Ramsdale playing the ball.
Burnley remain winless in 19th place, with just one point from their opening five matches.
Reuters
