Liverpool and Arsenal win as Salah and Milner set records on first Saturday in the Premier League

There were wins for Liverpool and Arsenal and records for the prolific Mohamed Salah and the enduring James Milner on the first Saturday of the Premier League season.

Liverpool’s new era under Arne Slot began with a 2-0 victory over promoted Ipswich, with Salah netting the second to take his tally of goals in the opening round of a Premier League season to nine — breaking a tie he had with English soccer greats Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Frank Lampard.

Arsenal, runner-up in the league for the past two seasons, also won 2-0 at home to Wolverhampton thanks to goals by Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.

Liverpool and Arsenal are widely expected to be the biggest threats to champion Manchester City in its bid for a record-extending fifth straight English top-flight title. City opens its title defense at Chelsea on Sunday, with the season having been launched Friday by Manchester United beating Fulham 1-0.

In other matches on Saturday, Newcastle overcame a 28th-minute red card to Fabian Schar for a headbutt to beat Southampton 1-0 through Joelinton's goal and Everton also had a player sent off, Ashley Young, in its 3-0 loss at home to Brighton.

Brighton's team featured James Milner, who — at 38 — was starting his 23rd season in the Premier League, beating the record of 22 he held jointly with Man United great Ryan Giggs. Milner is seven years older than his manager, Fabian Hurzeler, who had a winning start to English soccer after moving from German team St. Pauli.

Aston Villa beat West Ham 2-1 and Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 with Bournemouth in a match that saw Forest midfielder Danilo suffer a broken ankle after landing awkwardly in an aerial challenge. Screens were put up around the Brazilian while he received treatment.

Ipswich's most famous supporter, pop star Ed Sheeran, was cheering the team on against Liverpool from a VIP box at Portman Road, days after buying a small stake in the club.

This is Ipswich’s first season in the top flight since 2002 and the team looks sure to entertain, even if it might concede plenty of goals in the process with its open, expansive style.

Salah set up Diogo Jota for the first goal in the 60th and then poked home a finish from close range in the 65th as Liverpool improved following a slow first half in its first competitive game under Slot, who replaced longtime manager Jurgen Klopp during the offseason.

Saka was one of a host of top stars quickly back into action after playing international tournaments during the summer at either Euro 2024 or the Copa America.

The England winger was quickly into his stride, crossing for Havertz to head home in the 25th before scoring himself by cutting inside and firing a shot inside the near post from the edge of the area in the 74th.

Arsenal was grateful to goalkeeper David Raya for pulling off three impressive saves to retain a clean sheet for the best defense in the league last season, while Havertz was at the center of an incident that saw Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera fall onto the Germany striker and land with his hand on Havertz's throat. Mosquera avoided any sanction.

Arsenal finished last season two points behind Man City after taking the title race to the final round.

Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra were the scorers for Brighton at Goodison Park, which is the home for Everton for one last season before the club moves to a new, bigger stadium across town.

Young was shown a straight red card in the 66th minute for hauling down Mitoma when he was the last defender. At 39, Young is the oldest player to receive a red card in the Premier League. Milner played for 82 minutes on his record-setting day.

Newcastle didn't end up paying for Schar's rash reaction when he responded to a push from Ben Brereton Diaz by placing his forehead against that of the Chile striker, who fell to the ground. Schar received a straight red card.

The score was 0-0 at the time, but Newcastle earned all three points when Alexander Isak collected a misplaced pass by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and set up Joelinton to score in the corner.

Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta started for West Ham with a spot-fixing scandal hanging over him from the end of last season, and scored from the penalty spot against Villa.

Paqueta is alleged to have deliberately received yellow cards during Premier League matches to influence betting markets. He was charged with misconduct on May 23 and faces a long ban if found guilty by English soccer authorities. He denies the charges.

Colombia striker Jhon Durán scored the winner for Villa in the 79th after coming on as a substitute. Amadou Onana gave Villa the lead on his debut in the fourth minute before Paqueta equalized.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the British Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Aston Villa, at the London Stadium, Saturday Aug. 17, 2024. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot leaves the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Nottingham Forest's Danilo receive treatment as covers are placed around him during the British Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth, at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday Aug. 17, 2024. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Nottingham Forest's Danilo, centre, receives treatment for an injury as team-mate Murillo reacts during the British Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth, at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Saturday Aug. 17, 2024. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Newcastle United's Joelinton, left, celebrates scoring with teammate Alexander Isak during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St James' Park, Newcastle, England, Saturday Aug. 17, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)

FILE - Brighton's James Milner, front, duels for the ball with West Ham's Ben Johnson during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Brighton, at the London stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium in London, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Arsenal's Kai Havertz, bottom, challenges for the ball with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Yerson Mosquera during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium in London, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Arsenal's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium in London, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium in London, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

FILE - Ipswich Town fan Ed Sheeran in the stands before the Sky Bet Championship match at Portman Road, Ipswich, England, on Dec. 16, 2023. Sheeran has bought a small stake in the club ahead of its return to the Premier League. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP, File)

Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates after he scores his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, celebrates after he scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

DETROIT (AP) — Jacob Stallings’ RBI double in the ninth inning helped the Colorado Rockies beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 on Thursday afternoon.

The Tigers began the day three games behind the Minnesota Twins for the third American League wildcard spot and Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal on the mound.

With the score tied at 2, Brendan Rodgers led off the ninth with a single off Jason Foley (3-6) and took second on a passed ball. Stallings hit a flare into right field that got past Matt Vierling, allowing Stallings to take second.

Pinch-runner Nolan Jones moved to third on a groundout and Jake Cave made it 4-2 with a long sacrifice fly.

Tyler Kinley pitched the ninth inning, retiring Zach McKinstry with runners at the corners for his 12th save.

CARDINALS 6, REDS 1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Masyn Winn and Brendan Donovan each homered to help St. Louis beat Cincinnati.

Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (13-9) was perfect through five innings before Jake Fraley singled to leadoff the sixth. He finished the day allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out nine batters in six innings.

Andrew Kittredge pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief before JoJo Romero got the final four outs for his first save of the season.

Thomas Saggese singled to center to drive in Lars Nootbaar for his first career RBI in the eighth inning after getting his first major league hit in the sixth.

ASTROS 6, ATHLETICS 3

HOUSTON (AP) — Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer early and Jon Singleton had three hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in Houston’s four-run eighth inning, and the Astros got a win over Oakland.

Brent Rooker homered off Ryan Pressly (2-3) with one out in the eighth to tie it at 2-all.

Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker hit consecutive singles with one out in the eighth to chase T.J. McFarland (2-3) and bring on Grant Holman. There were two outs in the inning when Singleton’s single to center field scored Diaz to put the Astros on top.

Jake Meyers followed with a run-scoring double before the Athletics intentionally walked Heyward to load the bases. Mauricio Dubón singled on a ground ball to left field to score two more, pushing the lead to 6-2.

Tyler Nevin hit a solo homer off Josh Hader with one out in the ninth before the closer retired the next two batters to end it.

MARLINS 6, NATIONALS 3

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jake Burger had three hits, Jonah Bride and Connor Norby had two RBIs apiece and Miami scored three unearned runs off three errors in a victory over Washington in the opener of a three-game series.

Bride had a game-tying single in the eighth inning and Otto Lopez put the Marlins ahead when his fielder’s choice grounder was mishandled two batters as Miami snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 2-9 against the Nationals this season.

Washington, which has dropped three of its last four, lost its 81st game, assuring its fifth straight season without a winning record since its 2019 World Series title.

RAYS 5, GUARDIANS 2

CLEVELAND (AP) — Brandon Lowe homered, Tampa Bay’s bullpen held Cleveland to one hit over seven innings and the Rays snapped a three-game losing streak on a rugged trip with a win over the AL Central-leading Guardians.

Lowe connected for his 18th homer in the first inning off Gavin Williams (3-9).

The Rays were swept earlier this week in a three-game series at NL East-leading Philadelphia. They improved to 3-4 on the 10-game trip, which started in AL East-leading Baltimore and finishes Sunday in Cleveland.

Tampa Bay will be the first MLB team to face three division leaders on the same trip in September or later.

Cole Sulser (1-0) took over for Rays starter Ryan Pepiot in the third and pitched three hitless innings. Richard Lovelady worked the ninth for his second save.

YANKEES 2, RED SOX 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto hit a game-ending single leading off the 10th inning to lift New York over Boston as Aaron Judge’s homerless streak stretched to a career-high 16 games.

With pinch-runner Jon Berti on second as the automatic runner, Soto grounded a single against Josh Winckowski (4-2) just past the glove of diving shortstop Trevor Story, and Berti slid home ahead of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s throw to give the Yankees back-to-back walk-off wins for the first time in three years.

Judge, who leads the major leagues with 51 homers and 126 RBIs, went 1 for 4 with a single and is batting .207 (12 for 58) with 21 strikeouts since Aug. 26.

Colorado Rockies' Jacob Stallings hits a one-run double against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)