Liverpool Manager Andoni Iraola
Liverpool Manager Andoni Iraola
Arsenal left Anfield with a victory by a single goal on Sunday, as Kai Havertz’s 16th minute strike settled a fierce contest and sent the champions three points clear at the top of the Premier League, while Liverpool dropped to fifth.
1. Arteta’s promise was delivered, and a long Anfield wait is over
On Friday, Mikel Arteta told reporters it had been 14 years since Arsenal last won at Anfield and that it was time to do it, and his side backed those words up by ending a run stretching back to 2 September 2012, when Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla scored in a victory under Arsène Wenger.
That run had spanned 13 league visits without a win.
The decisive moment came when a poor pass out from Alisson was pounced on by Martin Odegaard’s press, Arsenal worked the ball right through Bruno Guimarães and Christos Tzolis, and Declan Rice’s low cross was tapped in at the back post by Havertz, who started ahead of Viktor Gyokeres. It was the German’s third league goal of the season, his first away from home, and his 46th in the Premier League, making him the competition’s highest scoring German player.
2. Liverpool could not get the ball to Isak
Alexander Isak arrived having scored six goals in his previous six league outings, accounting for six of Liverpool’s 11 Premier League goals this season, but Arsenal starved him of service for long spells.
His clearest sight of goal came in the 27th minute, when Virgil van Dijk flicked on a header and David Raya got down quickly to block Isak’s effort.
Liverpool finished with 16 shots to Arsenal’s ten and 55 per cent of possession, yet only three of those attempts hit the target, and they reached half time with eight shots and none on target.
That fits with how Arsenal arrived at Anfield, having conceded just five league goals and faced only 24 shots on target all season, the fewest in the division, and they now have six clean sheets from nine games.
3. The fine margins went against Liverpool
Liverpool will feel they were unfortunate not to draw level before the break, with Florian Wirtz striking the underside of the crossbar from a free kick and about four first half penalty appeals, the most vocal of which came on 29 minutes when Cody Gakpo went down under a challenge from Tzolis and VAR declined to intervene.
Liverpool won six corners in that half against Arsenal’s one, but rarely tested Raya.
The second half’s biggest flashpoint arrived around the 80th minute, when Alexis Mac Allister went down clutching his face after squaring up to Noni Madueke, and after a VAR check, referee Andy Madley booked Mac Allister rather than dismissing the Arsenal winger, who had already been cautioned on 55 minutes.
4. Iraola’s big calls did not change the game
Andoni Iraola picked Trey Nyoni in midfield, explaining before kick off that he wanted his aggression and ability to cover ground, and stuck with Gakpo ahead of Rio Ngumoha until roughly 20 minutes from time.
When the changes came, they came in bulk, with Ronald Araujo, Wirtz and Milos Kerkez all replaced at once on 81 minutes and Lewis Koumas and Víctor Munoz among those introduced.
Ngumoha’s delivery did create a late opening when Araujo’s effort was blocked and gathered by Raya, but Arsenal managed the closing stages comfortably, and Liverpool needed a fine Alisson save from Tzolis on 84 minutes just to keep the deficit at one.
5. A nine point gap and a demanding week ahead
The defeat ended Liverpool’s run of five straight wins in all competitions and their four match unbeaten league record against Arsenal, leaving them on 15 points from nine games with four wins, three draws and two defeats, nine behind the leaders and one behind fourth placed Chelsea.
There is little time to dwell on it, with a Champions League trip to Fenerbahçe on Wednesday, where Liverpool will look to protect a perfect record of nine points from three league phase games against a side who have just lost at home to Goztepe in Dirk Kuyt’s first match as interim coach.
After that comes a visit to Crystal Palace on Sunday 8 November, who sit 18th on seven points and are set to be without Jean-Philippe Mateta after his red card at Tottenham.
Support DaveOCKOP and enjoy the site completely ad-free. You’ll get an uninterrupted browsing experience while helping us continue to deliver the latest Liverpool news, breaking stories and exclusives. Go ad-free today.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and FC Internazionale Milano at Berabeu stadium on September 08, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and FC Internazionale Milano at Berabeu stadium on September 08, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.