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.

Key Opta facts

- 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. The Gunners sit atop the table nine+ games into a season for the first time since December 10, 2016 (15th game).
- With 10 points from eight games so far, this is Liverpool's worst return at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2012-13 (nine points), when they ultimately finished seventh.
- Across their last 12 Premier League matches, Liverpool have conceded 16 goals and kept two clean sheets, while conceding the first goal of the game 10 times. In their 12 league matches prior to this run, the Reds conceded three goals, kept 10 clean sheets, and conceded the first goal of the game twice.
- Martinelli is the youngest Arsenal player to score and assist against Liverpool in the Premier League (21y 113d). The Brazilian has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 14 appearances in the competition (five goals, five assists).

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.