Merseyside misery as Liverpool, Everton lose heavily

It was a case of "North London nine, Merseyside three" as Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal inflicted thumping defeats on both Liverpool and Everton respectively in the Premier League on Sunday. Hope that this might be the season where Liverpool ended their wait for a maiden Premier League looked flimsy following a 4-1 loss away to Spurs at Wembley while Arsenal sent an expensively-assembled Everton side into the relegation zone with a 5-2 win at Goodison Park. Defeat left Liverpool 12 points behind leader Manchester City just nine games into the league season, with the likes of unfancied Watford, Newcastle United and Burnley all above Jurgen Klopp's men in the table.

Here's how things stand at the end of a pulsating #PL weekend: pic.twitter.com/WB8100ZMCm

— Premier League (@premierleague) October 22, 2017

Defensive frailty has long been a problem for Liverpool and they found themselves 2-0 down inside 12 minutes as Spurs, now level on points with second-placed Manchester United, struck early on thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. Liverpool did pull one back through Mohamed Saleh in the 24th minute but Spurs were 3-1 up before half-time courtesy of Dele Alli's strike following a half-cleared corner. Kane put the result beyond doubt in the 56th minute after Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet punched Kieran Trippier's free-kick to Jan Vertonghen, whose blocked shot was forced home by the England star.

Diego Maradona is an interested spectator at Wembley today... pic.twitter.com/L7eS4tu00D

— Sky Sports PL ? (@SkySportsPL) October 22, 2017

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino was elated by a convincing win that took place in front of a record Premier League crowd of 80,827 that included football great Diego Maradona and basketball star Kobe Bryant. Tottenham are playing their home games at Wembley while they wait for a successor ground to their White Hart Lane base to be built and some poor early season results led to talk of a Spurs "hoodoo" at the national stadium. Earlier Arsenal condemned Everton to a defeat that piled the pressure on Toffees manager Ronald Koeman, with the Dutchman's side having now won just twice in their last 13 games in all competitions.

Harry Kane scores again. Thankfully Zidane thinks Benzema is the best so they won’t be interested in poaching him.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 22, 2017

Wayne Rooney recreated his famous first league goal for Everton against Arsenal as the host took a 12th-minute lead against the run of play. But that was as good as it got for Everton as Nacho Monreal equalised prior to half-time before goals from Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette took Arsenal into the lead. Hope of a home comeback were damaged when Everton were reduced to 10 men in the 69th minute after midfielder Idrissa Gueye was shown a second yellow card.

Get in!#EFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/zeDNxjrYSk

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 22, 2017

Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey made it 4-1 ahead of stoppage-time goals from Everton substitute Oumar Niasse and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez. Victory gave fifth-placed Arsenal their first away win in the Premier League this season.RESULTSEverton 2 (Rooney 12, Niasse 90+3) Arsenal 5 (Monreal 40, Ozil 53, Lacazette 74, Ramsey 90, Sanchez 90+5)Tottenham 4 (Kane 4, 56, Son 12, Alli 45+3) Liverpool 1 (Salah 24)