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EPL PIX: Arsenal sink Burnley; Liverpool down Saints

Last updated on: August 17, 2019 23:25 IST

Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

IMAGE: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring the winner against Burnley. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the winner as Arsenal overcame a stubborn Burnley to maintain their winning start in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

It is the first time in 10 years that Arsenal have won their first two league games of a season and manager Unai Emery was delighted with the team's performance.

"We can be happy. Our idea, our gameplan on the pitch was knowing it was going to be tough because we need to adapt," the Spaniard told reporters.

 

"A lot of moments we couldn't impose our gameplan because they pushed and their gameplan was a struggle for us."

Alexandre Lacazette put the Gunners ahead in the 13th minute collecting a low corner from Dani Ceballos and showing great strength to turn marker Erik Pieters before driving through the legs of Burnley keeper Nick Pope.

Burnley responded well, however, and drew level two minutes before the break when a low effort from Dwight McNeil fell to Ashley Barnes in the box and the Clarets striker kept his composure to claim his third goal of the season.

Emery brought on club record signing, 72 million pound ($87.47 million) winger Nicolas Pepe at the break and the home side put Burnley under real pressure.

IMAGE: A goal scored by Reiss Nelson of Arsenal is disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Pope did well to keep out efforts from Aubameyang and the hugely impressive Ceballos and it was that pair who combined for the winner.

Ceballos won the ball in the Burnley half and fed the Gabonese forward who burst goalwards before cutting inside and beating Pope with a fine drive.

Substitute Lucas Torreira had a chance to make it 3-1 in stoppage time but the Uruguayan midfielder's shot from inside the penalty area was blocked by Pope.

Burnley continued to push for an equaliser but Arsenal hung on to close out the win.

"We've started with two victories, last year we lost two," Emery added. "Our challenge is each match. We're happy with six points. Next week we are against Liverpool, a big challenge.

"Being realistic, (it) is going to be tough."

Burnley boss Sean Dyche said a few key moments in the second half had proved to be the difference between the two teams.

"We gave a good performance and in the second half they got more of a foothold," he said. "We've come away disappointed in a few moments that changed the game."

Mane and Firmino lift Liverpool to victory

IMAGE: Roberto Firmino, left, celebrates with his team mates after scoring his Liverpool's second goal. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Liverpool provisionally moved into the Premier League's top spot after superb individual goals by forwards Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino gave them a nervy 2-1 win at Southampton on Saturday.

Liverpool have six points from two games after their opening 4-1 home win over Norwich City. Either champions Manchester City or Tottenham Hotspur, who clash in the 1630 GMT kick off, can leapfrog them.

The European champions looked weary in the opening 30 minutes after their penalty shootout win over Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul on Wednesday but Mane fired them ahead against the run of play.

The lively Senegal forward teed himself up on the edge of the penalty area on the stroke of halftime and curled a rasping shot past home goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who was left clutching at thin air.

Liverpool dominated after the break and missed several chances before Firmino picked up a loose ball, side-stepped a defender and drove a crisp low shot past Gunn in the 71st minute.

But the visitors barely hung on in the closing stages after a howler by their stand-in goalkeeper Adrian gifted the home side a lifeline.

The Spaniard's poor clearance rebounded off Danny Ings into the back of the net and the former Liverpool striker missed a gilt-edged chance to snatch a late draw for the Saints when he skewed wide a close-range shot in the 87th minute.

IMAGE: Liverpool's James Milner, left, tries to get the ball past Jannik Vestergaard of Southampton. Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

Mane acknowledged the exertions of playing last season's Europa League winners Chelsea in the Turkish capital took its toll on Liverpool.

"After playing 120 minutes on Wednesday it was not easy," Mane told the BBC.

"But we got the three points and I think we deserved it. Once we scored the first goal it was easier for us."

Mane had mixed emotions about scoring against his former club and conceded Liverpool were rattled by Adrian's blunder.

"I'm sorry I have to score but I'm wearing a Liverpool shirt now. Southampton was a very good step for me, I have big respect for this club.

"(After Southampton's goal) I was nervous because it wasn't over. We had another 10 minutes to go. It can happen, it is part of football."

Pukki hat-trick gives Norwich win over Newcastle

Teemu Pukki

IMAGE: Teemu Pukki celebrates with the match ball after his hat trick helped Norwich City beat Newcastle United 3-1. Photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Norwich City's Finland striker Teemu Pukki grabbed a hat-trick, including a thunderous volley, as they beat Newcastle United 3-1 in their first home game back in the Premier League after a three-year absence at a sunny Carrow Road on Saturday.

Last season's Championship top scorer and Player of the Season showed his class as the Canaries handed Newcastle's new manager Steve Bruce his second league defeat of the season on an unhappy return to a club he captained in the mid-1980s.

Norwich, who had dominated the opening exchanges, took the lead just past the half hour when Pukki gave goalkeeper Martin Dubravka no chance with a stunning strike from 15 metres after a cross from Emiliano Buendia was headed out by the defence.

The Finn got his second with a sharp finish after 63 minutes and wrapped up the win with his third in the 75th, before Jonjo Shelvey's late consolation for the visitors, as Daniel Farke's Norwich put an opening 4-1 loss at Liverpool behind them.

Trossard shines on debut as Brighton draw 1-1 with West Ham

IMAGE: Brighton and Hove Albion's Leandro Trossard scores their first goal past West Ham goalkeeper Ɓukasz Fabianski. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Brighton & Hove Albion debutant Leandro Trossard's superb strike cancelled out a second-half goal by West Ham's Javier Hernandez in an entertaining 1-1 Premier League draw at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

West Ham went in front in the 61st minute through Mexican striker Hernandez who ran onto a pass by Manuel Lanzini and tucked the ball past Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan.

New signing Trossard had a goal disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the first half and missed another chance but the Belgian was not to be denied four minutes later as he blasted home from distance after West Ham failed to clear.

Brighton substitute Neal Maupay, who scored on debut in last weekend's 3-0 win at Watford, had a chance to win it but fired over in the 72nd minute with only West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to beat after a perfect assist by Glenn Murray.

"I thought the performance was really good. We played better than we did last week but now we go forwards," Brighton manager Graham Potter said.

"We were the better team after the first 10 minutes. The level of football was good but we know we can improve as well."

Trossard thought he had put Brighton ahead when he volleyed in from close range in the 27th minute but the goal was disallowed after defender Dan Burn was ruled offside before providing the assist.

"The players really responded to the goal being ruled out and then going behind. It was slightly against the run of play to go behind, but the great thing about these players is we always keep fighting," Potter added.

"There's a long way to go but the signs are good. The points return looks good. Performances are the things we want to focus on and we'll look to do that next week and going forwards."

West Ham, who looked more settled after Michail Antonio was introduced at halftime, also had their opportunities to take all three points as the match wore on but Brighton held on firmly to remain unbeaten after two games.

"A draw is a fair result. In the second half both teams played better," West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini said. "We know Hernandez can score... it was important not to lose a second game in a row."

Brighton next host Southampton on Aug. 24 while West Ham travel to Watford on the same day.

Source: REUTERS
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