Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly prepared to activate the €150million release clause in the contract of Milan forward Rafael Leao.

Leao, 23, has emerged as one of the top attacking players in the Serie A since arriving for €35million back in 2019, tallying a career-high 14 goals in all club competitions in the 2021-22 season before starting this campaign in blistering form.

The Portuguese star with 11 international caps has four goals and four assists from his first eight league games, as well as three assists from three Champions League fixtures, and it seems Paris Saint-Germain have seen enough to justify a substantial investment.

TOP STORY – PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON MASSIVE LEAO RELEASE CLAUSE

French outlet Media Foot is reporting Paris Saint-Germain will return with bids for multiple big names they were unable to land in the past transfer window, and they could come in January.

The report mentions Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos was responsible for bringing Leao to Lille in 2018, and as a result he has been monitoring the young talent for years.

With the futures of Lionel Messi and Neymar uncertain, Leao could represent the future of the club going forward, with Kylian Mbappe, and he is not the only big-money target mentioned in the report.

Paris Saint-Germain are said to also be returning with another offer to Inter for Milan Skriniar, and remain interested in Manchester City's Bernardo Silva.

ROUND-UP

– Sky Sports Germany is reporting Real Madrid have plans to replace Karim Benzema with City star Erling Haaland in 2024.

– According to The Independent, Manchester United are only going to make a move for one of Jude Bellingham or Frenkie de Jong, with the target yet to be decided.

– Liverpool's Naby Keita is a target for Barcelona, with the 27-year-old's contract set to expire at the end of this season.

– The Daily Mail is reporting Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli is demanding his wages be tripled before he agrees to a new contract.

– According to The i, Newcastle United are preparing bids for Leicester City midfielder James Maddison and Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby.

Virgil van Dijk admits Liverpool's "confidence is creeping away" after making their worst start to a Premier League campaign in a decade.

Liverpool's 3-2 loss to Arsenal in Sunday's contest at Emirates Stadium leaves them with 10 points from eight games – their lowest return since the 2012-12 season (nine).

The Reds have conceded 16 goals across their past 12 league matches and kept just two clean sheets, while conceding the opening goal of the game on 10 occasions.

And centre-back Van Dijk, who has come in for criticism for his performances this campaign, accepts a lack of belief is playing a part in Liverpool's disappointing run of form.

"Confidence is definitely a thing that plays a part. We're all human beings," he told Sky Sports.

"Sometimes you need a bit of confidence in certain moments. If it's not as high, it won't help in certain situations.

"Every human being needs confidence to perform at the highest level. If you're not winning, confidence is creeping away.

"We know we can turn it around but we have to work hard. That's the only thing to do and the only way forward as well."

Liverpool twice drew level in their enthralling contest with Arsenal, only for Bukayo Saka to claim victory for the home side with a 76th-minute penalty.

The spot-kick was awarded after Thiago Alcantara was adjudged to have fouled Gabriel Jesus, but Van Dijk does not believe it should have been given.

"Obviously it was a very tough game for both sides. We had good moments, we had bad moments," he said.

"Then it got decided by a penalty that from my point of view wasn't a penalty. But it goes so quick, I haven't looked in slow motion. 

"Unfortunately we couldn't get the points to bring with us back to Liverpool."

Liverpool are 10th in the table, 14 points adrift of pacesetters Arsenal with a game in hand, after failing to win any of their opening four league games for the first time in 12 years.

In contrast to their opponents' slow start, Arsenal have won at least eight of their first nine league games for only the fourth time in their history.

"We know they're in the best moment of their lives," Van Dijk added. "They've had a great season and we knew it was always going to be tough.

"But I think we had good moments and created good chances at times. It's hard to lose it by a penalty in my opinion, but it's the case, so we have to deal with that."

Liverpool switch focus back to the Champions League on Wednesday with a trip to Rangers, before hosting Manchester City on their return to league action next weekend.

Manchester City's incredible squad depth means some players may be tempted away despite their success.

Among those is centre-back Nathan Ake, who has only managed 30 Premier League appearances since his move to Etihad Stadium in 2020, although he has made five starts this term.

The 29-cap Netherlands international joined City for a reported £41million fee from Bournemouth.

TOP STORY – INTER PLOT MOVE FOR CITY'S AKE

Inter are trying to lure Manchester City defender Nathan Ake to Serie A, claims Ekrem Konur.

The 27-year-old Dutchman has been on City's books since 2020, joining on a five-year contract.

Inter may be looking for reinforcements for their defensive stocks, with uncertainty over Milan Skriniar's future.

ROUND-UP

– Paris Saint-Germain will move again for Inter defender Skriniar in January, reports ESPN. Skriniar is in the final year of his Inter contract and may be available for a cut-price fee.

– Liverpool have joined Juventus and Napoli in having an interest in 21-year-old Rennes winger Jeremy Doku, according to Calciomercato.

– Chelsea are monitoring teenage Villarreal midfielder Yeremy Pino, potentially in the event of Mason Mount leaving the club, claims The Telegraph.

– Football Insider reports Gabriel Martinelli and Arsenal are in talks over a new deal, with the Brazilian's existing contract set to expire in 2024.

– Arsenal are interested in 23-year-old Club Brugge forward Ferran Jutgla, claims Todofichajes.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 700th goal in club football as Manchester United came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Ronaldo reached the latest landmark of his spectacular career after coming on as a first-half substitute for the injured Anthony Martial, ensuring United returned to winning ways in the Premier League after the dismal derby defeat to Manchester City.

Elsewhere, Arsenal's young guns continued their stunning start to the season as Bukayo Saka's double and Gabriel Martinelli's early strike secured a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool at Emirates Stadium.

Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1 at Selhurst Park, while West Ham roared back to overcome Fulham 3-1.

Here, Stats Perform picks out the best data from another day of mouth-watering Premier League action.

Everton 1-2 Manchester United: Ronaldo hits yet another landmark

Ronaldo did not start on United's visit to Merseyside, but a first-half injury to Martial paved the way for him to create yet another slice of history.

The 37-year-old, who has also scored a record 117 international goals, has now taken his overall tally for United to 144 across two spells at Old Trafford, adding to a combined tally of 556 from his time at Sporting CP, Real Madrid and Juventus.

United had started sluggishly at Goodison Park and fell behind early on to Alex Iwobi's superb strike from 25 yards. The Nigerian has either scored or assisted in three consecutive Premier League appearances for only the second time in his career (also April 2016).

The Red Devils levelled soon after when Antony latched on to Martial's pass and beat Jordan Pickford, the Brazilian becoming the first United player to score in each of his first three appearances in the Premier League for the club.

Ronaldo then ensured United became the first team in Premier League history to have won 100 games after conceding the first goal.

Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool: Young guns pile on misery for Reds

This stirring victory meant Arsenal have won at least eight of their first nine league matches in a top-flight campaign for only the fourth time, after 2007-08, 2004-05 and 1947-48.

This latest triumph helped them sit atop the table nine or more games into a season for the first time since December 2016 (15th game).

Their three goals came from Saka (2) and Martinelli, who are both 21 years old. The Gunners have now scored 54 goals courtesy of players aged 21 and under in the Premier League under manager Mikel Arteta – 22 more than any other side since the Spaniard's first game in charge.

Liverpool are yet to win away from home in the Premier League this season (D2 L2); this is the first time since 2010-11 under Roy Hodgson that they have failed to win any of their opening four away games in a Premier League campaign.

With 10 points from eight games so far, it is their worst return at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2012-13 (nine points), when they ultimately finished seventh.

Crystal Palace 2-1 Leeds United: Eagles bounce back as Yorkshiremen continue to struggle on the road

Eberechi Eze's fine strike helped Palace earn their first Premier League win since August (3-1 v Aston Villa), another game in which they conceded first. In this one, Pascal Struijk put Leeds ahead, but Odsonne Edouard soon got the Eagles back on level terms.

Palace have now won as many Premier League home games when conceding first this season as they did across the 2019-20 and 2021-22 campaigns (two). 

Leeds, meanwhile, are winless away from home in the Premier League this season (D1 L3), losing each of the last three in a row.

It is the second time in 2022 that the Whites have lost three consecutive away games, with the previous occasion coming in March.

West Ham 3-1 Fulham: In-form Scamacca strikes again for the Hammers

West Ham recovered from conceding Andreas Pereira's early strike to make it back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since January, having beaten Wolves last time out.

Jarrod Bowen pulled the Hammers level from the penalty spot, before Gianluca Scamacca put them ahead with a cool lofted finish over Bernd Leno.

The Italian became the ninth player to score in both of his first two home starts in the Premier League for West Ham, and the first since their move to the London Stadium, with Diafra Sakho the previous player to do so at Upton Park in October 2014.

Michail Antonio added a late third to move level with Carlton Cole as the top scorer for West Ham in London derbies in the Premier League (14).

Mikel Arteta lauded Gabriel Martinelli's "outstanding performance" after the Brazilian scored and created another in Arsenal's 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Martinelli set the Gunners on their way after just 58 seconds with a cool finish, before teeing up Bukayo Saka after Darwin Nunez had levelled for the Reds.

Roberto Firmino equalised again for Jurgen Klopp's side, but Saka scored from the spot 14 minutes from full-time to seal an eighth win in nine Premier League games for a resurgent Arsenal.

Martinelli has now been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 14 appearances in the Premier League (five goals, five assists), and Arteta was full of praise for the 21-year-old.

"He's a great player," the Spaniard said in a press conference. "I think today he had an outstanding performance against a top defender and a top team and he made a difference in the game as well as the other players.

"That's the next level, to step up in these games and make things happen to win it."

Asked if Arsenal will try to tie Martinelli down to a long-term contract, Arteta responded: "We don't get directed by an individual performance. Gabby doesn't have to show me whether he plays well or not well.

"What is clear is his hunger, his determination and his love for this game. You don't know where he's going to reach because he's always asking and willing for more."

Arsenal have won at least eight of their first nine league matches in a top-flight campaign for only the fourth time, after 2007-08, 2004-05 and 1947-48.

This latest triumph lifted them back to the Premier League summit after Manchester City had usurped them on Saturday, with Arteta's side now holding a one-point lead.

It sparked jubilant scenes at the Emirates Stadium, and Arteta said the support from the stands has been crucial to his side's success this season.

"Just thank you so much to the boys and our supporters for experiencing an afternoon like this," he added. "It's what our profession is about to live days like this and I really enjoyed it. Especially the way we won.

"I've never seen it like this [the atmosphere]. You cannot imagine how much it helps the players and how much it gives them.

"One of the nicest things we've done since we are together here is to unite everybody and make them feel like when you go are you going to experience something together."

Arsenal are next in action on Thursday when they face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League, before they visit Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday. 

Jurgen Klopp admitted his Liverpool team are out of the Premier League title race after just eight games.

A 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday saw Liverpool slide 14 points behind the Gunners, who lead the way by one point from Manchester City.

The top two have both played a game more than the Reds, who have won just twice and must tackle City next Sunday in a daunting Anfield test.

Manager Klopp had suggested before the Arsenal game that a title push was looking increasingly unlikely, given the unsure start.

But to not even be a factor in the race at this stage is a crushing blow considering how Liverpool performed last season, winning both domestic cups before losing out on the last day of the Premier League season and falling to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Assessing Liverpool's place in this season's pursuit of league honours, Klopp said: "We are not in the title race."

He said his team caused Arsenal "real problems, so that's the truth as well", but the former Borussia Dortmund boss knows points on the board are what matters.

Liverpool have begun the season by failing to win any of their first four Premier League away games (D2 L2), the first time they have endured such a start since 2010-11 under Roy Hodgson.

They stand a strong chance of going through to the Champions League knockout rounds again, having gathered six points from three group games so far, ahead of a trip to face Rangers on Wednesday.

That competition may become the priority if Klopp's side cannot make up significant ground on Arsenal and City.

"Of course, in a situation like ours, we play Arsenal, now we play Rangers obviously, and then we play Man City. Is that the perfect opponent for finding confidence back? Probably not," Klopp said.

"But we will go out there and fight and that's what we have to do and that's what we will do. And we are not here for being happy with the situation we are in and stuff like this, and thinking about last year and nearly there and nearly there – not at all, nobody of us is like that.

"But it is always like this, in a situation like this: you can ask all the questions, but my answers, I cannot change really a lot."

Klopp added: "If you are winning, there are five million things we could talk about, 'He's great, he's great and he's super, and the goals were outstanding'.

"Losing is always the same, the conversations are a bit more rusty. We work on solutions – today I saw some of them. But what you build with your hand you knock down with your backside. That's not helpful and that's what we did today."

He said Liverpool were "neither in the mood for jokes, nor happy".

"We are in a tough moment, and we want to get through this together," he said, "and that’s what we are working on."

Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a worrying twisted ankle in Liverpool's 3-2 defeat Arsenal that caused him "too much pain" to carry on, Jurgen Klopp said.

Manager Klopp said Alexander-Arnold's injury showed troubling signs of swelling, with Liverpool planning to get the right-back checked out on Monday.

The substitution of the England defender at half-time came after a dismal first-half performance, where he was arguably at fault to some extent for both of Arsenal's goals prior to the break.

For their first, after just 58 seconds, Gabriel Martinelli ran in behind the full-back to drive a low shot past Alisson.

Darwin Nunez brought Liverpool level, but Arsenal regained the lead just moments before the break when Martinelli again charged down the left, this time tracked by Jordan Henderson. Alexander-Arnold rushed to help, but his presence only appeared to confuse the situation and Martinelli was able to centre for Bukayo Saka to touch home from close range.

Klopp stressed Alexander-Arnold's withdrawal was enforced, however, just as Luis Diaz's departure from the game with a knee complaint had been late in the first half.

"Lucho [Diaz] we had to change before [half-time]," said Klopp. "Something with the knee, not good. He will have a scan and then we will know more.

"I have no idea about the extent, and then on top of that Trent is bad as well with the ankle.

"[He] twisted the ankle, not good. Trent never, in seven years, went off if he could have played on. He was in too much pain, it started swelling immediately, so we will have to see."

That injury looked to be caused when Alexander-Arnold was fouled by Martinelli.

Alexander-Arnold's England place has recently been called into question ahead of the World Cup, with the Liverpool man left out of Gareth Southgate's matchday squad for last month's Nations League game against Germany.

Mikel Arteta hailed Gabriel Martinelli's "outstanding performance" after the Brazilian scored and created another in Arsenal's 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Martinelli set the Gunners on their way after just 58 seconds with a cool finish, before teeing up Bukayo Saka after Darwin Nunez had levelled for the Reds.

Roberto Firmino equalised again for Jurgen Klopp's side, but Saka scored from the spot 14 minutes from full-time to seal an eighth win in nine Premier League games for a resurgent Arsenal.

Martinelli has now been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 14 appearances in the Premier League (five goals, five assists), and Arteta was full of praise for the 21-year-old.

"He's a great player," the Spaniard said in a press conference. "I think today he had an outstanding performance against a top defender and a top team and he made a difference in the game as well as the other players.

"That's the next level, to step up in these games and make things happen to win it."

Asked if Arsenal will try to tie Martinelli down to a long-term contract, Arteta responded: "We don't get directed by an individual performance. Gabby doesn't have to show me whether he plays well or not well.

"What is clear is his hunger, his determination and his love for this game. You don't know where he's going to reach because he's always asking and willing for more."

Arsenal have won at least eight of their first nine league matches in a top-flight campaign for only the fourth time, after 2007-08, 2004-05 and 1947-48.

This latest triumph lifted them back to the Premier League summit after Manchester City had usurped them on Saturday, with Arteta's side now holding a one-point lead.

It sparked jubilant scenes at the Emirates Stadium, and Arteta said the support from the stands has been crucial to his side's success this season.

"Just thank you so much to the boys and our supporters for experiencing an afternoon like this," he added. "It's what our profession is about to live days like this and I really enjoyed it. Especially the way we won.

"I've never seen it like this [the atmosphere]. You cannot imagine how much it helps the players and how much it gives them.

"One of the nicest things we've done since we are together here is to unite everybody and make them feel like when you go are you going to experience something together."

Arsenal are next in action on Thursday when they face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League, before they visit Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday. 

Jurgen Klopp said Arsenal's crucial penalty was "a very soft one" after Bukayo Saka's confident strike from the spot condemned Liverpool to a 3-2 defeat at Emirates Stadium.

The loss is unmistakeably damaging for Liverpool, who have won just two of their opening nine games now in this Premier League campaign and are not looking like contenders.

They twice equalised against Arsenal, with Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino scoring, but Saka's second goal of the game meant it was the hosts who edged a five-goal thriller.

Thiago Alcantara's challenge on Gabriel Jesus in the 73rd minute gave Arsenal their spot-kick, with referee Michael Oliver's decision upheld by VAR, even though there appeared to be only slight contact.

That can be enough, although the decision was plainly not to Klopp's liking.

He told BBC Sport: "Now I saw it and I think you can imagine I don't think it is a clear penalty, it is a very soft one."

He said Liverpool should have cleared the danger before Thiago and Jesus collided, after Arsenal rained shots on the visitors' goal earlier in the attack.

"A couple of things went against us, but we are not blind, we see we could have done better in moments," Klopp said. "In general, it was a good away game against a good side. We caused them a lot of problems but stand here with no points."

Liverpool sit 10th after eight matches, with only 10 points, and they already trail Arsenal by 14 points and Manchester City by 13 points, albeit holding one game in hand.

There were positive moments for Liverpool, but Arsenal were the more impressive side, and next Sunday's Anfield tussle with Pep Guardiola's City looks a daunting one for Klopp's players.

Rumblings over a seven-year itch might persist if wins prove slow in coming, with Klopp having previously left Mainz and Borussia Dortmund after chalking up such a tenure. He has now completed seven years at Liverpool.

Oozing sarcasm, Klopp said injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz were "the icing on the cake" for Liverpool.

"It doesn't look good for both," Klopp said.

Liverpool might come good soon, but their manager will understand the harsh reality of results such as Sunday's.

"I saw a team with the right attitude and put in a proper fight and play football, and first half we did, but in the second half I didn't see these football moments as much," Klopp said.

"I think the game is a draw, but today we have nothing."

Call it a coming of age if you like, or was this just a ringing endorsement of Pep Guardiola's verdict?

Either way, Arsenal are a thrill-seeker's delight at the top of the Premier League.

It used to be said that a 21st birthday marked a 'key to the door' moment, a moment of growing maturity and responsibility.

A new level of trust was what it signified, and perhaps Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka can now be trusted to deliver on their promise for Arsenal. Their abundant talent has never been in question, but now it's about consistency, being a grown-up in a grown-up's league.

Sunday's 3-2 win against Liverpool only served to show that Martinelli and Saka, who have both celebrated that landmark 21st birthday since the end of last season, are not merely giddy talents now but stars who deliver.

The clearing of the decks by Mikel Arteta took a while, and Arsenal's power-brokers trusted the manager while many lost faith. The manager's vision, shared by the club, was of afternoons such as this, where their young guns picked apart last season's Champions League finalists and double cup winners.

Guardiola's view, if you missed it, was that Arsenal's position at the top of the Premier League was far from false, even while his Manchester City team take most of the early-season plaudits.

The City manager said on Friday: "We cannot forget one thing, ladies and gentlemen: there is one team that has been better than us. This is the reality. Arsenal have been better than us so far."

Arsenal don't have an Erling Haaland; in fact, their centre forward is a City cast-off, Gabriel Jesus.

But here they had Martinelli, Saka, a 23-year-old captain in Martin Odegaard, a centre-back partnership of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba – 24 and 21, respectively – and young full-backs in Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White, too.

Thirty-somethings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have left the building, so too for now the underachieving Nicolas Pepe, and Arsenal have not looked back.

It was quite a day for American football in north London, with the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants in action at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Arsenal Gunners and the Liverpool Reds on parade at Emirates Stadium.

Scoff at that all you like, but the globalisation of the Premier League means these two US-owned teams, along with Todd Boehly's Chelsea and the Glazer family's Manchester United, are vying to challenge Abu Dhabi-run Manchester City.

The beautiful game dictated that it was a Brazilian who brought the stadium to life in just 58 seconds.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool used to be the swarmers in this fixture, buzzing in intimidating numbers, searching for that sweet, sweet nectar of early goals. Liverpool have stung Arsenal teams of the past with such strikes, from Robbie Fowler to Roberto Firmino.

Arsenal served them a dose of that medicine this time, with Saka finding Odegaard who fed Martinelli and he slammed past Alisson. Trent Alexander-Arnold lost the runner, with Arsenal scoring their earliest goal against Liverpool in the history of the Premier League.

Darwin Nunez bundled in a 34th-minute equaliser after Luis Diaz's cross, but Arsenal were back in front before the break, this time with Jesus freeing Martinelli on the left, and he dashed from the halfway line into the penalty area before passing low from the left to give Saka a tap-in.

Alexander-Arnold was replaced at half-time, supposedly due to injury, but the second Arsenal goal had come from a raid down his flank too, and the Gunners plainly had his number.

Firmino cracked a throughball from Diogo Jota beyond the reach of Aaron Ramsdale for a second Liverpool equaliser, but you doubted they would have a third in them if Arsenal regained the lead.

That was Firmino's 10th Premier League goal in 14 games for Liverpool against Arsenal, making him the outright top scorer in this fixture since the league's 1992-93 inauguration, one ahead of Fowler.

When Thiago Alcantara nibbled at Gabriel Jesus in the 73rd minute, Arsenal had a penalty and trusted Saka with it.

He was practically a boy when he missed for England in the Euro 2020 final shoot-out, but this is Saka the man, and he picked out the bottom-left corner with the utmost confidence.

Martinelli is the youngest Arsenal player to score and assist against Liverpool in the Premier League, Opta said. He has been involved in 10 goals in his last 14 appearances in the competition.

Arteta's win rate across all competitions has crept just above 57 per cent with this win in his 142nd game at the helm, and he stands mere decimal places behind Arsene Wenger (57.2 per cent from 1,235 games).

Having won just one of their last 14 Premier League games against Liverpool before this one, Arsenal have not merely stopped the rot.

They have started something they clearly intend to finish.

Key to the door? This team hold the key to there being any sort of title contest this season.

Gabriel Martinelli hailed the "family" feel in Arsenal's squad as they returned to the Premier League summit with a swashbuckling 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Martinelli put the Gunners ahead after just 58 seconds, while Bukayo Saka restored their advantage after Darwin Nunez had equalised for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Roberto Firmino pulled the Reds level for a second time shortly after the interval, yet Saka sealed an eighth win in nine Premier League games this season with a penalty 14 minutes from full-time.

Arsenal sit atop the table nine or more games into a season for the first time since December 2016 (15th game) – something Martinelli attributes to the positive feeling in the squad.

"It means a lot for us," the Brazilian told Sky Sports. "We have been working hard and we deserve the win and we need to keep going because the season is long and we want to achieve good things.

"We are running for each other and we are a family, everyone is on their toes.

"It doesn't matter your age, it's your heart and how much you want to achieve in football and life. That is the most important thing.

"We need to believe and go game by game trying to win all of them."

Saka has now scored 20 goals and provided 19 assists for Arsenal in the Premier League, with his 39 combined goal involvements second only to Cesc Fabregas (63) for the Gunners in the competition before turning 22.

And the England international believes victory over Liverpool proves how much progress they have made this season.

"In the past two or three years, Liverpool have been a team we have struggled against," he said. "To win in front of our fans is special and it shows how much we are progressing.

"It gives us more confidence because they are a fantastic team and we have a lot of respect for them. I feel like we deserved to lead at half-time so to get that goal was crucial. I want to score more now."

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League as Bukayo Saka's 76th-minute penalty sealed a pulsating 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta's side were usurped at the summit by Manchester City on Saturday, but an eighth win in nine top-flight games this season helped them reclaim top spot.

The Gunners went ahead after just 58 seconds when Gabriel Martinelli stole in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold to clip past Alisson, although Liverpool drew level 11 minutes before half-time through Darwin Nunez.

Saka restored Arsenal's lead just before the break and the England international slotted home from the spot after Roberto Firmino had drawn Jurgen Klopp's side level for a second time early in the second half.

Arsenal went ahead within a minute of kick-off as Martinelli slotted past Alisson for his fourth league goal of the season after being slipped in by Martin Odegaard's sumptuous pass.

Ramsdale denied Nunez shortly after the midway point of the first half, but there was little the Arsenal goalkeeper could do to stop the Uruguayan pulling Liverpool level in the 34th minute as he prodded home Luis Diaz’s right-wing cross from close range.

Arsenal restored their advantage deep into first-half stoppage time, though, when Saka stole in at the back post to divert Martinelli's cross home.

Liverpool again pegged their hosts back eight minutes after the interval when Firmino, who replaced the injured Diaz in the first half, latched onto Diogo Jota's pass and fired across Ramsdale into the bottom-right corner. 

Arsenal went ahead for the third – and final – time in the 75th minute courtesy of Saka's successful spot-kick after Gabriel Jesus had been fouled by Thiago Alcantara.

What does it mean? Young guns keep marching on

If some had doubts this young Arsenal side were the real deal then consecutive Premier League wins over Tottenham and Liverpool might have dispelled them.

This latest triumph lifted the Gunners a point ahead of City at the top of the table, while Liverpool remain in 10th after just two wins in eight top-flight games this season.

Superb Saka

Saka has enjoyed a stunning start to the season and his double here saw him become the second-youngest player to reach 20 Premier League goals for Arsenal at the age of 21 years and 34 days, after Nicolas Anelka (20y 41d).

Quickfire Martinelli

Martinelli's goal after 58 seconds was Arsenal's quickest in a Premier League home game since October 2011 when Robin van Persie scored after 29 seconds against Sunderland. It was also the quickest goal that Arsenal have ever scored against Liverpool in the Premier League.

What's next?

Liverpool are away to Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Arsenal visit Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League a day later.

Jurgen Klopp has effectively conceded defeat in the Premier League title race following Liverpool's underwhelming start to the season.

The Reds went into the weekend ninth in the table and will finish Sunday in the bottom half if they lose to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Klopp's side have taken just 10 points from their opening seven league outings, winning only twice, and neither of those wins were in their three away games.

Not since the 2010-11 season under Roy Hodgson have the Reds failed to win any of their first four matches away from Anfield in the league.

They will do well to beat an Arsenal side who have won seven out of a possible eight fixtures to this point.

Despite Arsenal's strong start, Manchester City are most people's strong favourites for the title, particularly given Erling Haaland's form.

Even if Liverpool win at Arsenal, they will need to make up a 10-point deficit on City – whom they face next weekend – and Klopp seemed to accept that is not going to happen.

"We still have the chance to create something really special from this point," he said ahead of the game.

"Does it look at the moment that we will be champions at the end of the year? Unfortunately not."

Klopp added: "But in all other competitions we're not out yet.

"Nobody knows where we will end up in the league yet so let's just give it a go, that's it.

"Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. That's enough. So let's just go from here.

"Did I think we'd be ninth after matchday seven? No, but this is the base where are now and we must go from here."

Liverpool have won their previous four league matches against Arsenal, but they have never beaten the Gunners fives times in a row.

Jurgen Klopp hopes Mohamed Salah is close to "exploding" into a rich vein of goalscoring form, but believes comparisons with Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland are unfair.

Salah shared the Premier League's Golden Boot with Son Heung-min after scoring 23 goals in the competition last term, but has only found the net twice in seven outings this season.

The Egyptian's diminishing returns have mirrored those of his team, with Liverpool sitting 13 points behind City – with a game in hand – ahead of Sunday's trip to Arsenal.

Haaland's arrival has taken City to new heights this campaign, with the Norwegian hitting 15 goals in his first nine Premier League games, and Klopp believes any comparisons with Salah would be unhelpful.

"With Mo, I hope it's like us, we are close to exploding," Klopp said. "Whose season was it yet? From our side, nobody.

"Mo is like this, even when his goalscoring numbers aren't crazy, often he's involved, it's just the problem that if you don't score around that, nobody appreciates that.

"Nobody in the world can cope with the [Erling] Haaland situation, it's crazy what he's doing. 

"He's an exceptional player in an exceptional team and I don't think we should compare anyone with that at the moment.

"Mo wants to score goals desperately, 100 per cent, that will never change. Call him in 20 years, it will be the same."

Liverpool approach their trip to the Emirates Stadium having recorded two draws and one defeat in their first three away outings of the Premier League campaign.

Not since 2010-11, under Roy Hodgson, have Liverpool failed to win any of their first four away league games in a single season.

Meanwhile, Saturday represented the seventh anniversary of Klopp's appointment at Liverpool, and the German left each of his two previous posts – at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund – before bringing up an eighth year at the helm.

Klopp, however, insisted Liverpool's struggles have nothing in common with those of his former clubs, saying: "The situation in the clubs was very different. 

"A seven-year spell was not planned or because I lost energy or these things. I was manager at Mainz and after three years, we got promoted to the Bundesliga then three years later we got relegated.

"We tried one more year and the club needed a change. Players left us for the Bundesliga, so they needed a fresh start, definitely.

"I was full of energy. I went directly to Dortmund and it was all fine. [It was] seven years and it was just a situation that players constantly got bought by other clubs.

"It was a really hard job to do, instead of developing a team, constantly making two steps back. It was really intense and really exhausting.  

"I can understand that I left after seven years, and now we are in a difficult situation, but, if you think twice about it, you realise the situation is completely different.

"Being here for seven years is intense, no doubt about it. But it's nice as well, I got so many things back. If there's one club that has a chance to go through it together, it's us."

Fabinho says Liverpool's showdown with Premier League leaders Arsenal will provide a great opportunity for the Reds to "get our confidence back" as they look to improve their recent form.

Jurgen Klopp's side have endured a slow start to the Premier League season and are already 11 points behind the Gunners after their opening seven games.

The trip to the Emirates is the third of nine matches that Liverpool will play across all competitions in October, while they welcome reigning champions Manchester City to Anfield next weekend.

And with games coming thick and fast, Fabinho has called for focus from his team-mates as they look to build momentum and embark on a run of positive results.

"[The] Emirates is a nice place to play and Arsenal, of course, are in a really good moment right now, playing really well, winning their games, top of the league," the Brazil international told Liverpool's official website.

"It's a good opportunity for us as well to show that we are Liverpool, we are still one of the best teams in this league. So, it's a good opportunity for us to get the three points and to close the gap on these teams as well.

"I always say that this is the moment every player likes; playing every three or four days. Different competitions to play – Champions League, Premier League – so a lot of big games to play.

"In the league, our next two games are against maybe the better two teams at the moment, Arsenal and Man City. So, what an opportunity for us to play against these teams, to play these kind of games to get our confidence back.

"This moment is not good, and it's not easy when we know you can do better, you can play better, you can win more and more games. We just have to keep focused, keep concentrating, try our best to turn this situation."