Football: Mane reaches century as Liverpool top Premier League, Arsenal ease Arteta pressure

LONDON -- Sadio Mane reached 100 career goals for Liverpool in a 3-0 win against Crystal Palace that sent the Reds top of the Premier League, while Arsenal eased the pressure on Mikel Arteta with a battling 1-0 victory at Burnley on Saturday.

Defending champions Manchester City dropped two points at home to Southampton after a 0-0 stalemate while struggling Wolves lost their fourth match in five against 10-man Brentford.

Mane continued his eye-catching mastery of Palace, netting in his ninth league match in a row against the Eagles.

Mohamed Salah's glancing header from Kostas Tsimikas' corner was kept out by goalkeeper Vicente Guaita but Mane pounced to lash home, giving him a century of goals for Liverpool in all competitions.

Salah doubled the Reds' lead in the 78th minute before Naby Keita sealed the win with a sweetly struck volley.

Liverpool have made an impressive start to the season, scoring 12 goals in their opening five games and conceding just once.

"I told the boys that is one of the most hard-fought 3-0 wins I ever saw. We gave everything," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said.

"Sadio's 100th goal for Liverpool, a massive mark! It was a really good game for Sadio. He worked incredibly hard again."

Arsenal were rock bottom of the table before last week's fixtures but wins against Norwich and now Burnley lifted them to the relative comfort of 12th spot before the late kick-off between Aston Villa and Everton.

Odegaard, who signed from Real Madrid last month after spending part of last season at the Emirates on loan, broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, curling home a free-kick to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at Turf Moor.

Arsenal breathed a sigh of relief when VAR overturned a penalty awarded to Burnley in the second half after Matej Vydra tumbled to the turf following a challenge by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

"It was a hard-fought victory at a really tough place," Arteta said.

"We have players who are not at their strength playing in this type of game, but they did their best. I'm very proud of them defensively."

- City drop points -

Manchester City will rue their inability to beat Southampton at the Etihad after consecutive 5-0 home wins.

It could have been worse for them after referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot when Kyle Walker bundled into the back of Adam Armstrong in the area, showing the England international a red card.

But the incident was reviewed by VAR and Moss eventually decided to overturn both decisions.

The build-up to City's match was dominated by a row over attendance levels at the Etihad, with manager Pep Guardiola urging fans to fill empty seats in comments that irritated some supporters.

But fans were frustrated by battling Southampton, who kept City's attackers at bay despite relentless pressure.

The home side thought they had snatched victory in the dying minutes after goalkeeper Alex McCarthy saved a Phil Foden header and Raheem Sterling tucked in the rebound but the flag was raised.

"We were not good in our build-up and lost the ball because we were not clever today and a bit sloppy," Guardiola said.

"It is because we didn't do our process with the back four and Fernandinho. Those five players have to bring the ball forward for the others."

Aston Villas second half blitz ended Everton's four-game unbeaten run with a 3-0 home win.

Matty Cash put Villa ahead with 25 minutes left and Lucas Digne's own goal doubled their lead before Leon Bailey made it three goals in nine minutes.

Watford beat Norwich 3-1 to condemn the promoted Canaries to their fifth consecutive defeat.

Watford took the lead in the 17th minute through Emmanuel Dennis but Teemu Pukki equalised before half time.

Ismaila Sarr put the visitors back in front in the 63rd minute and scored again with 10 minutes to go.

Ivan Toney scored a goal and created another for Bryan Mbeumo as 10-man Brentford beat Wolves 2-0 to maintain their impressive start to their first Premier League campaign.

Tottenham host Chelsea on Sunday while Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United travel to West Ham.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Liverpool go eight points clear with 3-1 victory over Man City

LIVERPOOL, England - Liverpool opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League with an emphatic and hugely impressive 3-1 win over defending champions Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.

The victory, sealed with goals from Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, leaves unbeaten Liverpool on 34 points from 12 games, eight ahead of Leicester City and Chelsea, and nine in front of Pep Guardiola's fourth-placed City.

While talk of decisive results in November, with 26 games of the campaign remaining, is premature, the manner of Liverpool's win over a team which has dominated the league for the past two seasons was certainly a declaration of intent.

"The boys were completely focused and concentrated. It was so good," Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp said.

Anfield exploded when Liverpool grabbed a sixth-minute lead with a thundering drive from Brazilian Fabinho, who pounced on a poor clearance from Ilkay Gundogan and blasted past Claudio Bravo from over 20 metres out.

Yet City felt the stunning effort should have been ruled out -- and a penalty awarded to them -- as prior to the break that led to the goal Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to handle the ball inside the box but the VAR review went against the visitors.

It was the latest VAR controversy in the Premier League and is certain to spark more debate, but while the opening goal set the tone, Liverpool's dominance was soon evident all across the field.

City pushed forward in response and Raheem Sterling missed a close-range header, but Liverpool struck again in the 13th minute when Andy Robertson crossed from the left and Salah nodded the bouncing ball past Bravo to make it 2-0.

Juergen Klopp's European champions, without a domestic league title since 1990, now had a firm grip on the game and caused constant trouble for City's shaky defence with their powerful surges forward.

Liverpool were on top physically and their pressing stopped City from establishing their usual possession game but still they managed to carve out some openings.

Sergio Aguero, who had a disappointing game, forced Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker into action in the 25th minute and then the Argentine should have done better three minutes before the break when he shot wide after being fed by Kevin De Bruyne.

Guardiola needed to adjust something at the break to find a foothold in the game but City's third defeat of the season, after losses to Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, was assured when Liverpool made it 3-0 six minutes after the interval.

Jordan Henderson superbly worked space on the right flank and whipped in a cross which Mane dived to head home at the back post.

Bernardo Silva pulled a goal back for City in the 78th minute, drilling home a low cross from Angelino and the visitors enjoyed some late pressure but it was too late for a comeback from the champions.

City have not won at Anfield in the league since May, 2003 -- their only win at Liverpool in 38 years, but manager Pep Guardiola took positives from Sunday's performance.

"It's not easy after being two goals down to react the way we reacted. It was one of the best performances I have ever seen from my team. That's what we needed and hopefully we can continue to make the steps we need," he said.

(Reporting by Simon Evans Editing by Toby Davis)

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Football: Salah screamer gives Liverpool vital win against Chelsea

LIVERPOOL, England - A spectacular strike from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool maintain their two point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League title race with a crucial 2-0 win over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.

City won 3-1 at Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday meaning Liverpool have 85 points with four games to go and City are on 83 with an additional match to play.

But with Pep Guardiola's side having to face Tottenham and Manchester United in the next 10 days and Liverpool having no more matches against top six teams, Juergen Klopp's side have a glorious chance to end their club's 29-year wait for a domestic league title.

After a fascinatingly even first half, Liverpool turned on the style after the break with a 51st minute header from Sadio Mane and then a long-range screamer from Salah two minutes later blowing Chelsea away.

"I’m so proud of the team, it was a fantastic performance," said Klopp.

"What a team, what a stadium, what an atmosphere. I’m so thankful I can be a part of this, it’s great. It’s just outstanding, very overwhelming at times," said the German.

Although the brilliant Eden Hazard hit the post for the visitors, there was a real determination about the way Liverpool approached the second half -- closing down across the field and yet still pushing forward in search of a third to totally kill the game.

BIGGEST OBSTACLE

That did not come but with only lowly Cardiff City, relegated Huddersfield Town, Newcastle United and Wolves remaining as hurdles, this was the biggest obstacle in Liverpool's run in, cleared with some margin to spare.

Hazard, playing in a central role, had been a constant threat in the opening half while Liverpool's cutting edge was not quite there. Mane went close with a curling effort and a Firmino toe poke forced Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into action.

Chelsea had arguably had the better of the opening half but whatever Klopp said to his team at the break certainly had the desired effect.

The breakthrough came when Salah weaved into the area, putting the Chelsea defence on the back foot and Henderson picked out Mane at the back post with the Senegalese forward confidently heading home.

If that goal brought a feeling of relief, it was pure joy two minutes later when Salah scored a sensational second -- the Egyptian receiving the ball on the right flank and cutting inside before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 25 metres out into the far, top corner.

"It blows me away," said Klopp.

"I had the best view of it. I saw earlier than most people that it would go in. What a finish, what a shot. But the whole move around it. Wow, brilliant," he added.

Chelsea responded positively, though, with David Luiz picking out Hazard with a ball over the top, the Belgian beating the advancing Alisson Becker only to see his shot bounce out off the post.

Moments later, Becker then had to be alert to keep out a Hazard shot from a Willian cross as Chelsea searched in vain for a way back.

But having been warned, Liverpool were alert to the Hazard threat and they could have had a third themselves in the 89th minute with Mane forcing Arrizabalaga into a reflex save.

The jubilant reaction of the crowd at the final whistle, showed the importance of these three points.

The pressure is on City ahead of 10 days which could determine the outcome of this fascinating title race. 

(Reporting by Simon Evans Editing by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar)

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Football: Liverpool back on top as United go fourth

LONDON -- Liverpool returned to winning ways and the top of the Premier League table while Manchester United climbed into fourth place on Saturday as English football paid tribute to the late Emiliano Sala.

First-half goals from Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum together with Mohamed Salah's 48th-minute effort saw Liverpool to a 3-0 win over Bournemouth at Anfield.

Victory meant Liverpool, who had been second on goal difference, leapfrogged Manchester City by three points ahead of the reigning champions' match at home to Chelsea on Sunday.

Meanwhile United's revival under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continued with an equally comfortable 3-0 win away to Fulham.

Liverpool had dropped points in successive 1-1 draws against Leicester and West Ham, sparking suggestions they were losing their nerve in a quest to end the club's 29-year wait to be crowned champions of England once again.

- 'Convincing' Liverpool -

Mane, however, eased the pressure with an early headed goal at Anfield.

Liverpool doubled their lead through Wijnaldum's 34th-minute lob before Salah's curling shot sealed victory.

"We knew we were not happy with our performance in the last two or three games," said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. "We want to play convincing football we want to perform."

In London, Paul Pogba scored two goals -- including a second-half penalty -- either side of an Anthony Martial strike as United made it 10 wins in 11 game since former striker Solskjaer was put in temporary command.

Chelsea could regain a spot among the Champions League qualifying places against Manchester City.

But United, 11 points adrift of the top four when Jose Mourinho was sacked in December, are back in the hunt now.

"There are so many games left, but we hope to stay in the top four," said Solskjaer.

Arsenal inflicted more misery on Huddersfield with a 2-1 win away to the bottom-of-the-table club.

Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal 2-0 up before half-time, with Sead Kolasinac's own-goal too late for the Terriers.

Elsewhere under-pressure Everton manager Marco Silva's return to Watford ended in a 1-0 defeat thanks to an Andre Gray goal.

Everton's loss was compounded when Kurt Zouma was sent off after the final whistle for complaining to referee Lee Probert.

- Cardiff win as they mourn Sala -

An emotional week for Cardiff ended with a dramatic 2-1 win away to Southampton that saw them climb out of the relegation zone just days after the death of transfer-window signing Sala was confirmed without him having played a game for the Welsh club.

The Argentinian's body was formally identified by an English coroner on Thursday, a day after it was recovered from underwater aeroplane wreckage in the Channel.

Cardiff wore special shirts embroidered with a yellow daffodil, the national emblem of Wales and the team colour of French side Nantes, Sala's former club, with a minute's silence observed prior to kick-off.

Bluebirds captain Sol Bamba's second-half volley gave Cardiff the lead only for Jack Stephens to equalise in stoppage-time.

But there was still time for Kenneth Zohore to score a 93rd-minute winner at St Mary's Stadium.

"It's been a tough couple of weeks," said Bamba. "I know Emiliano Sala was looking from up there so it's good to get the three points."

Burnley were in the relegation zone after Cardiff's win.

But they moved three points clear in a 3-1 late kick-off win at Brighton, Chris Wood scoring twice as Southampton were left in the bottom three.

"It's always tough coming here and we showed we can fight and grind it out," said Wood.

"It's a big win at this stage of the season," he added.

London rivals Crystal Palace and West Ham drew 1-1, with Hammers captain Mark Noble scoring with a first-half penalty before Eagles striker Wilfried Zaha marked his return from suspension with an equaliser 14 minutes from time at Selhurst Park.

Third-placed Tottenham welcome Leicester to Wembley on Sunday, with in-form Wolves at home to Newcastle on Monday.


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Liverpool beat Man Utd to go top as Chelsea keep up chase

LIVERPOOL, England - Liverpool regained top spot in the Premier League after an impressive 3-1 victory over old rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday put them a point ahead of title rivals Manchester City.

After City's 3-1 win over Everton on Saturday, Juergen Klopp's side rose to the challenge with two second-half goals from substitute Xherdan Shaqiri.

Earlier, Chelsea won 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion to consolidate their hold on fourth place ahead of Arsenal, who were surprisingly beaten 3-2 at Southampton to end a run of 22 games without defeat.

Liverpool, the only unbeaten side left in the league, never looked in danger of letting that record slip in their home fortress and the only surprise was that it was not until the final 20 minutes that they made sure of the win.

Sadio Mane had put Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute with a fine finish, bringing down a Fabinho pass on his chest before slipping the ball past David De Gea.

United had been outclassed early on but, against the run of play, managed to get back on level terms when home keeper Alisson fumbled a low cross from Mane into the path of Jesse Lingard who accepted his early Christmas present gleefully.

As the game wore on, Liverpool were increasingly forced into hopeful long-range efforts but the introduction in the 70th minute of Shaqiri, a summer signing from relegated Stoke City, turned the game.

Both of the Swiss international's efforts, in the 73rd and 80th minutes, were deflected but the good fortune had been earned by a enterprising Liverpool display that highlighted the 19-point gap between the two clubs -- the biggest at this stage of a season in 46 years.

"I'm over the moon about the performance. The way the boys played tonight was outstanding," said Klopp.

"The timing of Shaqiri's introduction was not too bad. We need somebody to score the goals. But how the boys fought. The mix of big fight and really playing football against an unbelievably strong team," he added.

The win puts Liverpool on 45 points from 17 games, with Man City on 44 and Tottenham Hotspur third on 39.

Defeat, though, leaves United sixth on 26, 11 points away from the fourth Champions League qualification slot with manager Jose Mourinho, who had left France midfielder Paul Pogba on the bench, accepting that was the best his side could now hope for.

"We can still finish fourth," said the Portuguese manager. "It's not easy. For sure, we are going to finish in the top six. Best we can get is fourth.

"Now we look to the fifth and then later the fourth," he added, noting that United's fixtures are easier in the second half of the season.

Eden Hazard starred in Chelsea's win at Brighton, setting up the first goal for Pedro and scoring the second himself.

Manager Maurizio Sarri agreed that the last few minutes were difficult, however, after the home side revived and scored through Solly March.

"We conceded a goal in a moment when we were in full control," he said.

"The last five minutes against a very physical team were difficult to manage."

The win took Chelsea to 37 points, three points clear of London rivals Arsenal, who conceded three headed goals in defeat at lowly Southampton, the last of them in the 85th minute.

Danny Ings scored the first two and although Henrikh Mkhitaryan equalised each time, substitute Charlie Austin scored the winner with goalkeeper Bernd Leno at fault in not cutting out Shane Long's cross.

It was Southampton's first win since Sept. 1, achieved in new manager Ralph Hasenhuettl's first home game.

"I'm very proud of how focused and uncompromising they were, and when they had the chances, how merciless they were," the Austrian said.

(Reporting by Simon Evans Additional reporting by Steve Tongue Editing by Ian Chadband )

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Liverpool halt Spurs run, Arsenal and United win

LONDON - Liverpool roared back into the mix for a top-four finish with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday that opened the door for Chelsea to strengthen their vice-like hold on the Premier League title race.

Two goals from Sadio Mane in a vibrant first half scuppered second-placed Tottenham's hopes of cutting Chelsea's lead to six points and the Blues will go 12 points clear with 13 matches left if they win at Burnley on Sunday.

While Chelsea look unstoppable, the real battle is below them where only two points separate Tottenham and sixth-placed Manchester United.

Arsenal put two Premier League defeats - and days of uncertainty about manager Arsene Wenger - behind them to beat Hull City 2-0 and move above Manchester City into third.

United stayed sixth after beating Watford 2-0 - a victory that meant they become the first club to reach 2,000 points in the Premier League since it began in 1992.

Fifth-placed Manchester City play Bournemouth on Monday when victory would leapfrog them into second.

At the other end of the table, the bottom three all lost with 20th-placed Sunderland thrashed 4-0 at home by Southampton, for whom new striker Manolo Gabbiadini scored twice, and 19th- placed Crystal Palace going down 1-0 at Stoke City.

Liverpool were without a league win in 2017 and had been knocked out of both domestic cups during a recent slump, but rediscovered their verve to outplay a lackluster Tottenham side whose nine-game uneaten league run came to shuddering halt.

Senegalese Mane, whose absence on African Nations Cup duty coincided with Liverpool's slump, scored in the 16th and 18th minutes and could have doubled his total.

Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp was delighted as his side moved into fourth place, a point behind the two north London clubs and ahead of Manchester City on goal difference.

"Today the pressure was on us but we dealt with it," Klopp said. "We had a really bad period. We are still around, not with Chelsea but with the rest."

Alexis Sanchez scored both goals for Arsenal at the Emirates, although his first in the 34th minute owed much to luck as the ball went into the via his hand.

"The referee apologized to us after halftime and said it was a handball," Hull defender Andrew Robertson said.

The Chilean's second also came via a goalline handball, this time from Hull's Sam Clucas in stoppage time, which led to a penalty and sending-off. Sanchez's spot-kick took his tally to 17 goals in 25 league games, including four against Hull.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United looked unrecognizable from the side who spluttered through the early months of the season and extended their unbeaten league run to 16 games.

Juan Mata put them ahead before Anthony Martial doubled their lead after the break.

"Sixteen games unbeaten is an amazing record," United manager Jose Mourinho said.

INSTANT RETURN

Southampton are getting an instant return on the 14 million pounds ($17.5 million) they paid Napoli for Italy striker Gabbiadini on transfer deadline day.

His brace against Sunderland, including a brilliant turn and shot, means he has now scored three in two games.

Sunderland and Palace remained rooted to the bottom on 19 points after Joe Allen's sixth league goal of the season for Stoke - his best-ever haul - was enough to see off Sam Allardyce's struggling Palace side.

Fifteenth-placed Middlesbrough earned a valuable 0-0 draw to move two points clear of third-bottom Hull. Champions Leicester City face a relegation battle at Swansea City on Sunday.

Mid-table West Bromwich Albion had Gareth McAuley's last-gasp equalizer to thank for a 2-2 draw at West Ham United.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

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PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool climb to second as Arsenal, Spurs misfire

LONDON -- An 81st-minute Gareth McAuley goal prevented Liverpool from provisionally going top in the Premier League as they defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 on Saturday.

Needing a two-goal win to move above leaders Arsenal, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead through Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho, but McAuley's strike left them in second place on goal difference.

Arsenal had earlier been held to a 0-0 draw by Middlesbrough, while fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur played out a goalless stalemate at Bournemouth.

"I'm really pleased with the performance," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports.

"It was unbelievably difficult against West Brom. You have to always concentrate. They are so dangerous at set-pieces.

"But I think it would have been kind of a joke if we hadn't won today. It was unbelievable, how we played."

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City can reclaim first place by avoiding defeat at home to Southampton on Sunday, when Jose Mourinho makes his return to Chelsea with Manchester United.

Klopp made one change to the Liverpool team held 0-0 by United last Monday, with the fit-again Adam Lallana returning to the starting XI at the expense of Daniel Sturridge.

Roberto Firmino took over from Sturridge up front and played a key role in Liverpool's neat 20th-minute opener, crossing for Mane to volley home after Coutinho's dummy had freed Emre Can.

Mane turned provider 15 minutes later after a sliced clearance by visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster, slipping in Coutinho, who cut inside two defenders and scored at the near post.

West Brom centre-back McAuley halved the deficit late on, volleying in from close range at a corner.

Arsenal, 6-0 winners over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League in mid-week, were seeking an eighth successive win in all competitions.

But Middlesbrough came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half at the Emirates Stadium when Gaston Ramirez curled a 21st-minute free-kick against the post.

Arsenal dominated the second half, but had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for ensuring the visitors' counter-attacks came to nought.

"It is a game where you had a lot of possession, but there were tired legs and you are prone to counter-attacks," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was celebrating his 67th birthday.

"You make it difficult for yourself. Seventy-five percent possession, but you could have lost the game. That is modern football."

- Shaqiri, Shaqiri -

Tottenham extended their unbeaten start to the season to nine games -- something they last achieved in 1990 -- but squandered an opportunity to go top in a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth.

Both teams hit the woodwork in the early stages, Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris diverting Charlie Daniels's shot onto the bar and Erik Lamela clipping the post from distance.

"We had control, but we didn't create enough chances to score," said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

"I think we need to be pleased in the end because it's one point more, one clean sheet, but it's true for us to be contenders we should be winning the games like today."

Champions Leicester City did not need Jamie Vardy as they won 3-1 at home to Crystal Palace to climb to 12th place.

With Vardy starting on the bench after a groin problem, strikers Ahmed Musa and Shinji Okazaki struck either side of half-time at the King Power Stadium.

Christian Fuchs sealed victory in the 79th minute, the Austrian left-back netting from distance with a sensational strike to register his first Leicester goal.

Yohan Cabaye replied five minutes from time for Palace.

"That was our best performance so far this season," said Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri. "It was the shape and model of last season and we concentrated on doing our job."

Sixth-place Everton spurned a chance to make ground on the leading sides in a 2-1 defeat at Burnley, who took a 39th-minute lead when goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's blunder gifted Sam Vokes a tap-in.

Yannick Bolasie equalised just before the hour with his first Everton goal, but Scott Arfield struck at the death to condemn Ronald Koeman's men to a fourth league game without victory.

Xherdan Shaqiri scored two stunning goals -- the second a free-kick -- as Stoke City won 2-0 at Hull City to climb out of the relegation zone at their hosts' expense.

Sunderland remain rock-bottom after Winston Reid's goal deep into stoppage time earned misfiring West Ham United a 1-0 win at their London Stadium.

Swansea City stayed second from bottom after Bob Bradley's first home game as manager concluded in a 0-0 draw with Watford.

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Winning start for Mourinho, Liverpool edge Arsenal

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored as Manchester United defeated Bournemouth 3-1 in Jose Mourinho's first Premier League game as manager on Sunday, while Liverpool edged Arsenal in a 4-3 thriller.

Juan Mata and captain Wayne Rooney were also on target at Bournemouth as United recorded a straightforward win that left them top of the table after the season's opening weekend.

Philippe Coutinho scored twice as Liverpool recovered from falling behind to Theo Walcott's goal at the Emirates Stadium, with Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane also on target for Jurgen Klopp's men.

"Eric Cantona was here at the best moment in his career. This guy is more than a player," Mourinho said of Ibrahimovic, who opened his United account with a low drive from 25 yards.

Ibrahimovic, a free signing from Paris Saint-Germain, has now scored on his debuts in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

"For the next two seasons I think he can be phenomenal for the team and the Premier League," Mourinho added.

Ibrahimovic, 34, said: "It's important to start good. Being new to the league is not easy. Everything is new for me: my team-mates, the clubs, the environment. I just play my game."

The charismatic Swedish star was handed a competitive full debut at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium along with fellow new signing Eric Bailly.

United's 89 million pounds (105 million euros, $116 million) record signing Paul Pogba was unavailable due to suspension.

Mata, controversially brought on and then taken off by Mourinho during the 2-1 Community Shield win over Leicester City last weekend, started on the right flank in place of Jesse Lingard.

United's starting XI bristled with attacking menace, but it took a calamitous blunder by defender Simon Francis for the visitors to take the lead in the 40th minute.

His woefully under-hit back-pass gave Mata a free run on goal and although Artur Boruc saved the Spaniard's shot, the ball rebounded off Francis and into Mata's path, giving him an easy tap-in.

Rooney made it 2-0 just before the hour, heading home Anthony Martial's mishit volley from six yards.

- Emirates goal-fest -

Ibrahimovic opened his Premier League account in style five minutes later, steering a shot into the bottom-left corner from range.

On the touchline Mourinho celebrated effusively and Bournemouth's consolation, a rasping shot into the top-right corner by Adam Smith, could not take the smile off his face.

"We dominated the early stages, but you can't gift Manchester United goals, which we did," said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Spectators at the Emirates Stadium were treated to a goal-fest as Arsene Wenger's injury-depleted Arsenal were beaten at home in their opening league fixture for the third time in four years.

Injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, plus Laurent Koscielny's lack of match fitness, obliged Wenger to deploy Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding in an inexperienced centre-back pairing.

The hosts also lost Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi to injury in the second half.

Having previously seen his penalty pushed away by Simon Mignolet, Walcott atoned by drilling Arsenal into a 31st-minute lead.

But Coutinho equalised with a glorious free-kick in first-half stoppage time before making it 3-1 with a neat volley after Georginio Wijnaldum had teed up Lallana to put Liverpool ahead.

Mane, a close-season signing from Southampton, added a fourth for Liverpool with a slaloming run down the right followed by an emphatic left-foot finish.

Boos rained down from the Emirates stands and despite substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Chambers replying for the hosts, Liverpool closed out their first away win over Arsenal since 2011.

"Scoring four goals is wonderful. Conceding three is the opposite of emotions," Klopp told journalists.

"It was hard work, but we deserved to win at the end."

Wenger said: "We played a very good first half and were unlucky to concede a goal just before half-time because the free-kick was very harsh. After that we paid for a lack of experience."

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