LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 1, 2026: Liverpool's Liverpool's Alexander Isak reacts as a foul goes against him during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 1, 2026: Liverpool's Liverpool's Alexander Isak reacts as a foul goes against him during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool’s lack of cutting edge in attack against Arsenal could be summed up by the fact that they failed to produce a shot on target.
Despite the Reds holding 56 percent of possession and producing 1.15xG to Arsenal’s 0.96xG, the visitors took three points home from Anfield.
And that was largely due to Liverpool’s inaccuracy around the box.
Liverpool had 17 shots against Arsenal but put none on target, according to Opta.
It was, therefore, the first time in 442 Anfield league matches that Liverpool officially failed to place a shot on target, since records began in 2003.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 1, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha and Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori (R) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 1, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha and Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori (R) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
This is how the Premier League’s official provider Opta recorded the statistic, though the truth is perhaps different.
Fans online pointed to some shots, particularly an Alexis Mac Allister strike, that was not put down as a shot.
According to Opta this was not a shot on target. pic.twitter.com/IHAJvYGwCh
— KIMUTAI (@Brown_niccur) November 2, 2026
Either way, Liverpool were unable to find a way past Mikel Arteta’s side, who frustrated the Reds around the box.
The team have scored just four goals at Anfield in the Premier League this season, their joint-fewest after five home matches in a top-flight campaign (also four in 1913/14 and 2012/13).
This was Arsenal’s first win at Anfield since 2012, when Arteta himself was part of a team that beat Brendan Rodgers’ Reds 2-0.
Liverpool have now lost as many Premier League games in front of fans at Anfield under Arne Slot (4) and Andoni Iraola (2) as they did under Jürgen Klopp (6).
There were 148 Anfield league games with fans in attendance under Klopp, and 43 under Slot and Iraola so far.
It wasn’t all bad for Liverpool, however. They were dominant for large periods against the champions, but ultimately came unstuck in front of goal.
Opta told us that Liverpool’s 28 touches in the opposition box before the break were the most on record (since 2008/09) by any side in the first half of a Premier League game against Arsenal.
So the attacks were sustained and Arsenal were pinned back, but Liverpool couldn’t find a way beyond the last line of yellow shirts.
Florian Wirtz hit the bar, Alexis Mac Allister missed a good headed chance and Alexander Isak should have had a penalty.
In the end, though, the Reds’ big-money attacking signings didn’t step up in the key moments when needed.
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, October 20, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister rubs the hair on his head celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 match between Liverpool FC and Villarreal CF at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-3. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)