Live Updates

4pm: Arsenal vs Liverpool

  • Theo Walcott opens the scoring after Simon Mignolet saves penalty
  • Philippe Coutinho levels with stoppage time free-kick.
  • Adam Lallana and Coutinho put the Reds ahead in the second half
  • Recap: Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester United
Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho scored a fine free-kick to spark Liverpool's comeback. Reuters

Full time: Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool

Seven goals, a missed penalty, an early goal of the season contender and heaps of defensive problems; just another average day at the office in the Premier League. Liverpool kick-start their campaign with a win, thanks in part to a double from Philippe Coutinho. Arsenal were in disarray for long periods, but showed character coming back from 4-1 down to run the Reds close. Nevertheless, the scrutiny will swell on Arsene Wenger who will again be under pressure to dip into the transfer market.

Well that is all we have time for on this Premier League live text. Hopeful today's goal-laden matches are a sign of things to come. We're back tomorrow with live coverage of Chelsea vs West Ham United, but until next time goodbye.

Jordan Henderson tries to make it five but the next best thing sees the ball deflected behind. Arsenal stay alive, but the ball is deep inside their half.

Theo Walcott is fed the ball in the inside right channel, turns on the sixpence but treads on the ball and the chance is gone. Liverpool close.

Five added minutes at the Emirates.

Liverpool have the ball deep in the Arsenal half and look likely to keep their lead. The Gunners are chasing shadows somewhat.

Firmino rattles the side-netting as Liverpool seek a fifth, which would surely settle this helter-skelter of a game. Arsenal still have hope however.

Arsenal getting a little frustrated as they pursue a fourth goal. Liverpool have tried to shut up shop since Chambers' header. Around six minutes remaining.

Amid all the goals, Granit Xhaka is on for his Arsenal debut. It's not always like this, Granit.

Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool (Calum Chambers)

This made game has another goal as Arsenal get another back with 15 minutes left. Calum Chambers flicks on Santi Cazorla's free-kick and Mignolet can get nowhere near it. Adam Lallana off for Liverpool, who are threatening to give away a three-goal lead here.

Coutinho off with what looks like a hamstring injury, with Emre Can coming on. Chance for Arsenal with the Brazilian off? Still over 20 minutes left.

Goal: Arsenal 2-4 Liverpool (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain)

This game takes another twist as Arsenal show some fight. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has just come on, cuts through two Liverpool defenders and via a Mignolet error finds the net from a tight angle. Game on again?

Goal: Arsenal 1-4 Liverpool (Sadio Mane)

The goal of the opening weekend from Liverpool's new signing. Mane scampers down the right, cuts inside and unleashes a fine strike to thunders into the top corner. Boos around the Emirates.

How are Liverpool not four up? Cech keeps out Coutinho as Firmino turned Chambers inside out, before Bellerins tackles denies Lallana a second. Arsenal all over the place and now they're lost the injured Alex Iwobi.

Goal: Arsenal 1-3 Liverpool (Philippe Coutinho)

Two goals in 10 second half minutes and Arsenal have been blown apart. A long passing move ends when Clyne drives a cross in and Coutinho opens his body and cannons the ball into the back of the net past Cech.

Goal: Arsenal 1-2 Liverpool (Adam Lallana)

Liverpool need just four second half minutes to take the lead for the first time this afternoon. Wijnaldum floats a fine cross in for Lallana who takes the ball down, keeps his cool and slots past Cech.

Back underway in north London.

Half time: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

Arsene Wenger will be sick of that as Arsenal dominate the first half but go in level against Liverpool. Theo Walcott missed from the spot but put it right a minute later with a calm finish. But the Reds equalised through Coutinho's fine set-piece, which flew beyond Cech. Entertaining first half.

Goal: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool (Philippe Coutinho)

The Reds strike in the twilight of a half in which they have barely figured. Coutinho takes aim with a free-kick from 30 yards and he curls it delightfully beyond Petr Cech and into the top corner. Breathtaking goal and Jurgen Klopp's men have a foothold.

Into two minutes of stoppage time at The Emirates. The hosts completely on top.

Calum Chambers gives the ball away in his own half and Liverpool have a three-on-two. The move finds its way to Wijnaldum, who takes aim with a side-footed effort which is comfortably saved.

Such was Moreno's defending during that spell you'd have thought he had a first goalscorer bet on or something. Comical from the Spaniard who has picked up where he left off last season, with that disastrous showing in the Europa League final.

Goal: Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool (Theo Walcott)

Moreno has been all over the place during his Liverpool career, not least this opening 31 minutes, and he's at it again to help give Arsenal the lead. The Spaniard is out of position as Liverpool clear and Walcott is found all alone and he slides past Mignolet - making amends for his failure from the spot.

A summer off has done nothing for Alberto Moreno's concentration and he gives away a clear penalty when he hacks down Theo Walcott. The England man picks himself up but his effort ot kept out by Mignolet.

Walcott misses

Penalty to Arsenal

Liverpool have not really got going in this opening quarter, allowing Arsenal to dictate play and impose their slick passing game on the match. There is a slight opening for Clyne however, who curls towards the back post where Firmino is lurking but Arsenal clear.

Alberto Moreno heads the ball straight into the path of Aaron Ramsey, before making amends for his error with a sliding tackle on the Welshman. Not convinced he knew what he was doing on either occasion. Very rash.

And the first effort on goal comes from the hosts. Sanches flicks the ball delightfully into the path of Ramsey who takes one touch to control and pokes goalwards where Mignolet makes an easy save. The Belgian needs to impress today, with injured summer signing Loris Karius waiting in the wings.

Fast start from Arsenal, as you might expect, with Nacho Moneal getting forward with regularity in the early moments. Liverpool not had much of the ball so far.

Players out and we're underway at The Emirates Stadium, where it is sun-decked. Interesting game to have this early in the campaign.

So what of Liverpool? Jurgen Klopp has had most of his squad available to him during pre-season and with seven new signings the German has been able to impose his philosophy on the squad this summer. That has led to some impressive-looking pre-season results, but how will that translate when it comes to the fulcrum of their season? They probably go into today's games as slight favourites.

Jurgen Klopp on Sky Sports: "I never thought about the complications of starting in October but for us it is different and we have had time to train together. There are a few lads who could train for six weeks, some lads two-and-a-half weeks. All the other teams had a pre-season too and that means they should all be in good shape and we have to be aware of it. Today is a very important day

"We have to force what they hate to do. Arsene has an attacking team, it is an offensive team and a team with direction in their game with quick players. But I don't think defending is their hobby so most of their strength is their defensive skills. We have to be offensive even though it is an away game. In this moment everything is possible."

Arsene Wenger on Sky Sports: "It's a big test for us because Liverpool had a good pre-season but of course we are a bit short defensively. But for us we want to take good pace into our game and play well together. It is a big concern because we lack games at the back. It is not about little quality just the experience. we have been hit hard.

"A positive result is always as a consequence of a great team spirit and of the quality of our game. It is based on intelligence and movement and technical quality and that is our game."

Arsenal's build up for the new season has been turbulent to say the least. It began with captain Per Mertesacker picking up a knee injury which has ruled him out until 2017. Gabriel has since followed him into the treatment room, while Jack Wilshere is also out. Couple that with Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud all being unavailable after Euro 2016, and Alexis Sanchez being jaded following the Copa America, and it is remarkable Arsene Wenger has been able to field a team at all this afternoon. Expect a slow start from the Gunners.

So Manchester United get their Premier League campaign off and running with a comfortable win over Bournemouth. Can Arsenal or Liverpool join them with an opening weekend win? All the build-up on the way.

Arsenal give a Premier League debut to new defender Rob Holding alongside Calum Chambers on the opening weekend, but Granit Xhaka is only on the bench. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is named in the 18 too.

Liverpool have named six of their seven summer signings in their squad. There are starts for Ragnar Klavan, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane, while Joel Matip, Alex Manninger Marko Grujic are on the bench.

Three new faces for Liverpool....

One debutant for Arsenal....

Before we get going at The Emirates, you can follow live coverage of our early game on this Sunday afternoon between Bournemouth and Manchester United. The visitors are currently on their way to victory in their first game under Eddie Howe.

Team news is around 20 minutes away, but how might both teams line up today in north London?

Arsenal will give debuts to Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding, with a host of defenders out injured. Captain Per Mertesacker and Gabriel are both absent, while Laurent Koscielny is not expected to figure.

Liverpool are without Daniel Sturridge and James Milner, but could give debuts with three players including Sadio Mane, who joined from Southampton.

The fixture gods have dreamt up an absolute cracker to end the opening weekend of the new Premier League season. Arsenal enter the new campaign with all sorts of problems; with a wafer-thin back four and Arsene Wenger typically coming under pressure over his transfer dealings. Liverpool meanwhile have had a relatively tranquil summer, with a heavy pre-season victory over Barcelona having raised expectations ahead of the new campaign. The pair face-off at The Emirates Stadium this afternoon knowing they can land an early psychological blow in what is expected to be a tight race for a Champions League place.

All the build-up and team news on the way ahead of the 4pm kick-off on the way.