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London, September 13 (IANS): Liverpool kicked off their title defense with a thrilling 4-3 win over newly promoted Leeds United, and Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick at home.
Leeds will be unfortunate to lose on a late penalty, but they showed they should have enough to survive with ease in the Premier League.
The Yorkshire team’s return to the top flight after a 16-year absence got off to the worst start when defender Robin Koch was penalized with one hand and Mohamed Salah scored the resulting penalty, the Xinhua news agency reports.
Jack Harrison leveled Leeds in the 12th minute with a pass from Kalvin Phillips, but a powerful header from Virgil van Dijk in the 21st minute with a cross from Andy Robertson after a corner kick put Liverpool in front.
Once again, Leeds tied in what was turning out to be a wildly entertaining game, when Patrick Bamford fired a shot with his right foot at half an hour, but just three minutes later, Salah’s second goal of the match put the 3 -two.
Leeds fought back for the third time with a wonderful goal from Matheusz Klick, who controlled Helder Costa’s ball with his first touch before producing an unstoppable volley with his second in the 65th minute.
Liverpool started to push Leeds back, but the newcomers held on until new signing James Rodrigo committed an unnecessary penalty to allow Salah to seal a thrilling victory and complete his hat-trick.
The first goal of the new season was scored by Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette to help his team to a comfortable 3-0 win at Fulham, who realized the difficulties that awaited them on their return to the Premier League.
Willian, Arsenal’s new signing, added two assists and Gabriel, another Brazilian rookie, scored the second with a header shortly after the break before Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed an easy victory before the hour.
The defeat means that Fulham has lost a record 11 consecutive London derbies in the top flight.
Crystal Palace’s Wilfred Zaha needed 13 games to get off the mark last season, but he only needed 13 minutes this time as he scored the only goal of the game in his team’s 1-0 win over Southampton, which failed. it was nowhere near its best in the south. London and rarely disturbed a well-organized local defense.
Palace had finished last season with an eight-game winless streak and this victory was exactly what coach Roy Hodgson needed.
West Ham struggled last season and it looks like it could be in trouble this time as well after losing 2-0 at home to Newcastle United, who took the points with goals from new signings Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendricks. Hendricks, who came from Burnley, hadn’t shot on goal since November before his goal with four minutes remaining.
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