Arsenal 3, Liverpool 4: First Thoughts

Arsenal 3 Walcott 31’, Oxlade-Chamberlain 64’, Chambers 75’
Liverpool 4 Coutinho 45+1’, 56’, Lallana 49’, Mané 63’

• We made it! It’s here! Oh, Liverpool, I’ve missed you.
• Nerves all around. Here we go!
• 2’ - Oh Migs, that’s not great, you’re paid to hold the ball. Please don’t.
• And I guess you make up for it a minute later. Sure.
• Moreno, that hair is awful. I thought it would be better.
• Decent shot, that. Thank god it was right to Mignolet’s arms and not his feet.
• Can we stop giving the ball away? That’d be aces.
• Finally a decent breakaway, with a fair shot by Clyne but - surprise - right at the keeper.
• 12 minutes in, we’re warming up. It feels like the start of something, something is coming together. (That might be premature).
• MORENO WITH A GREAT TACKLE KLAXON. Take it where we can get it, I guess.
• Annnnd a free kick outside the box given away. Fun.
• Some clever moves by Mané and Coutinho in the box but kind of undone by Moreno being weird.
• Hendo playing deeper than we’re used to seeing him. He did that a bit during preseason, too. Interesting.
• Oh god, we’re only 22 minutes in?
• Big Sam! What’re you doing here??
• Annnnd Moreno trips while making a tackle in the box, and Michael Oliver gives a penalty. Cool.
• Nervy Mignolet moments so far, none moreso than him blocking a penalty but thankfully he makes it happen.
• And now they’re back for revenge. Walcott at 30’.
• Can I start drinking now?
• Arsenal are really filling the ox, aren’t they. We can’t seem to find the spaces to get in.
• No, seriously, why can’t we hold onto the ball?
• Finally a decent bit of counterattack and Wijnaldum shoots right at the keeper. Guys, shots on goal don’t count for anything, you know that right?
• A little bit of magic there, almost.
• Arsenal just keep falling over, it’s really a wonder if they’re wearing the right boots or something. Two free kicks in two minutes for lame fouls.
• Side eyeing this whole first half, to be honest.
• Two minutes of added time. Okay.
• Foul by Holding leads to free kick and an okay spot.
• GOAL! Philippe Coutinho sticks it over the wall and in the top corner!
• Halftime: Nervy bits and silly bits. Struggling to really put the pressure on when Arsenal are well organized. The sparks are there, though. Hopefully we’ll see some stuff really kick on in the second half. But it’s all tied up and that’s all we can ask for, really.
• Second half, no changes made. Okay, we can do this. Here’s hoping we can settle a little more and move a little better.
• And just like that, Lallana gets his first of the season!
• KLOPP LOST HIS GLASSES AGAIN.
• Better pressing, especially by Hendo. We’re getting all up in their faces.
• Beautiful assist by Clyne leads to an even better Coutinho goal! Liverpool are up 1-3!
• Things are really heating up, Coutinho and Lallana both going for a fourth in some crazy scramble.
• A couple injuries forcing a couple changes for Arsenal around 58’.
• SADIO MANE MAKES IT 1-4! HE PIGGY BACKED KLOPP!!
• And then Oxlade-Chamberlain makes it 2 for the home side. Yikes.
• A fantastic second half for Coutinho ends in the magician being taken off, hopefully not as injured as it looks, but making way for Emre Can. That limp is not a great sight.
• Suddenly a lot of movement is gone and Arsenal puts a third away from a header by Calum Chambers.
• I was prepared for excitement but not this much, this soon!
• All that’s left to do is defend and well.... that always looks shaky.
• 5 minutes of stoppage time. Oof, are they trying to kill us?
• WE DID IT! We won our first match of the season, not without our heart attacks, but we made it. As decent of a victory as we can make it, against a fairly organized and threatening Arsenal side. Onward to next weekend.

We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.