Arsenal reclaim first place as Liverpool's problems worsen thanks to Saka.

This difficult victory at the Emirates Stadium was yet another significant statement of resolve from the team under Mikel Arteta's leadership, which has established itself as a title contender.

Prior to Darwin Nunez bringing Liverpool and Arsenal to a tie, Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal the early lead.

Saka gave Arsenal a second lead in the final minutes of the first half. After the break, Roberto Firmino scored to restore parity, but Saka's composed penalty gave Arsenal their eighth win in their previous nine league games.

Manchester City, the defending champions, who had moved into first place after defeating Southampton on Saturday, are now one point behind the Gunners.

The 3-1 victory over Tottenham the previous weekend strengthened the notion that Arteta has assemble a group worthy of serious consideration. That impression was reinforced by the way they resisted Liverpool's request to deny them.

Saka sinks troubled Liverpool as Arsenal regain top spot. 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 like 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 the 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.

Responding to Arteta’s plea to show “no fear”, Arsenal tore into Liverpool as they launched a blistering counter that gave them the lead after just 58 seconds.

Saka led the raid as he picked out Martin Odegaard’s run, and the Dane slipped a pin-point pass through to Martinelli, who got behind Trent Alexander-Arnold for a clinical finish from eight yards.