How the national media reacted to Liverpool's forgettable Premier League loss to Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday afternoon
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister clashes with Arsenal's Noni Madueke during the Premier League match at Anfield on November 1 2026
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister clashes with Arsenal's Noni Madueke during the Premier League match at Anfield on November 1 2026
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Arsenal gotta Arsenal. Just when it appeared Liverpool were gaining momentum with five successive victories, along came the champions and the Premier League's darkest artists to demonstrate how far away the Reds remain from challenging for major honours.
An early goal from Kai Havertz following by a lengthy rearguard action - and a lot of falling over - saw the Gunners earn a narrow 1-0 win at an increasingly angered Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
It made for a rather dreary 90 minutes. And while the ECHO was in attendance and provided our usual level of coverage, here's how the national media viewed a rollercoaster evening for Andoni Iraola's side.
Former ECHO operative Paul Joyce, now at The Times, pointed to how Liverpool were not rewarded for taking the risks.
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"Virgil van Dijk’s explanation in the days preceding the fixture of how the principle of risk and reward lies at the heart of Andoni Iraola’s energetic blueprint proved apt," he opines. "Liverpool took the risk, Arsenal the reward.
"Alisson’s misjudgment with the ball at his feet in the opening half was ruthlessly punished and became the defining act in a contest that ended with the visiting team back where they will feel they belong.
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"Afterwards, Arteta - who had been an Arsenal player the last time they triumphed in the league here, in September 2012 - described Liverpool as a 'top side' and it is true they breathlessly pursued parity.
"However, the reality is they did not force David Raya into a meaningful save during an afternoon in which Van Dijk spent the closing passages as an auxiliary striker."
Andy Hunter, another formerly of this parish, wrote in The Guardian about how Anfield became angered by the behaviour of the visitors.
"From Virgil van Dijk collecting a post-match booking for sarcastically applauding the referee, Andy Madley, to the jeers of the home crowd, enraged by the match officials and most of all by Arsenal’s streetwise tactics/s***housery (delete as appropriate), this was an infuriating evening for a team that had arrived with momentum and amid talk of a potential title challenge," he pens. "There was only applause for Liverpool’s players as they left the pitch in recognition of their effort and misfortune.
"The hosts should have had a penalty for Jurrien Timber tugging Alexander Isak’s shirt and preventing him from connecting with a Bradley Barcola cross. Florian Wirtz struck the crossbar during Liverpool’s brightest spell and Alexis Mac Allister squandered a free header from 10 yards out.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 1: Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on November 1, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister reacts after missing a glorious chance for Liverpool against Arsenal (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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"But as the second half ticked by and Arsenal absorbed the pressure, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice to the fore, belief in Liverpool’s powers of recovery faded."
Richard Jolly of The Independent chose to concentrate on Arsenal's good points and the fact the title race looks already over for Liverpool.
"The gap between them now stands at nine points," he says. "Even at this early stage, that looks insurmountable for Liverpool. If so, their title race may be run when the starting gun has barely been fired.
"Arsenal did become champions last season despite failing to score against Liverpool. In one respect, anyway, there will not be a repeat. Beaten 1-0 at Anfield last season, they got the opposite scoreline.
"It was not purely about defence. Arsenal committed plenty of players forward in the first half. They could have scored another. Guimaraes angled a shot wide. Jurrien Timber could not turn the ball in from close range. Alisson made amends in part with a terrific save to keep out Christos Tzolis’ low curler."
Finally, the tall Paul Gorst penned in the ECHO about how the Reds have already gained a bit of a backbone under Iraola.
"Despite the rush to reach a definitive conclusion on a weekly basis in the Premier League, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly where Liverpool are right now at this stage of their journey under Andoni Iraola," he scribes.
"Over two months into the season, those with glasses half full will point towards a heartening rebuilding of a character that simply wasn't there last season. The Reds, by and large, are no longer a soft touch.
"Big-money signings have started to tentatively deliver and a run of five successive victories since the defeat to Manchester City has been enough to suggest that this is a project heading in the right direction."
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2: Liverpool FC Head Coach Andoni Iraola concentrates after the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola, pictured on the club's tour of the US(Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)