Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his over-exuberant celebrations were to blame for his team almost throwing away victory in their pulsating 4-3 Premier League win at Arsenal yesterday.
After Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead at the Emirates Stadium, Philippe Coutinho scored twice and Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane also found the net as the visitors stormed into a 4-1 lead.
Klopp celebrated Mane’s goal by allowing the Senegalese forward to leap onto his back, but he had to endure a nervy finale as goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers gave Arsenal hope.
“I played a big part in the excitement of the last half hour, because it’s not allowed to celebrate the fourth goal like this with 35 minutes to go,” Klopp said.
“At this moment, we switched off the machines. The game was not over. Arsenal lost, but we gave them a path back into the game.
“Over the whole 90 minutes, though, it’s a deserved win. It’s always difficult winning in London against Arsenal.”
Brazilian playmaker Coutinho scored a stunning 25-yard free-kick and a neat volley either side of half-time before hobbling off in the second half, but Klopp said he had just been suffering from cramp.
It was the third time in four seasons that Arsenal have lost at home in their opening Premier League game and there were boos both after Mane’s goal and at full-time.
Asked if he felt under pressure, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports: “I am always under pressure.”
He added: “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. I have said many times we are working very hard to get one or two players in.”
Wenger was without centre-backs Per Mertesacker, Gabriel and Laurent Koscielny due to injury and fitness concerns.
He also lost midfielder Aaron Ramsey and winger Alex Iwobi to hamstring and thigh injuries respectively in the second half.
Asked how long Ramsey was likely to be out for, Wenger replied: “I don’t know yet. I haven’t spoken to the medical team.”