Bukayo Saka Sinks Troubled Liverpool As Arsenal Regain Premier League Top Spot

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League and plunged Liverpool's into turmoil as Bukayo Saka's double inspired a thrilling 3-2 win on Sunday. Mikel Arteta's side have emerged as title challengers and this hard-fought success at the Emirates Stadium was another significant statement of intent. The Gunners took the lead inside the first minute through Gabriel Martinelli before Darwin Nunez equalised for Liverpool. Saka put Arsenal back in front late in the first half. Although Roberto Firmino equalised after the interval, Saka's nerveless penalty sealed Arsenal's eighth win from their nine league matches.

The Gunners are one point clear of champions Manchester City, who had taken pole position with a win over Southampton on Saturday.

Last weekend's 3-1 win over Tottenham added to the growing feeling that Arteta has built a team worth taking seriously. The way they refused to be denied by Liverpool underlined that impression.

While Arsenal are on the up, Liverpool are in turmoil after their worst start for 10 years.

Without a win in their last three league games, Jurgen Klopp's men are languishing 14 points behind Arsenal in 10th place. They look a shadow of the side that came within two games of an unprecedented quadruple last season.

Those painful near-misses in the Premier League title race and Champions League final appear to have left Liverpool with a hangover.

Klopp had already conceded it was unlikely they would win the title after such a disappointing start and few would disagree now.

Although Klopp rejects claims his intense management style has worn down his players, on the seventh anniversary of the German's appointment, the sight of Liverpool with only two wins from eight league games is jarring.

Respon