LIVERPOOL, England — One goal was enough at Anfield, and Kai Havertz scored it. Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Liverpool was their first there in 14 years. It also put them back on top of the Premier League.
It came in the first half. Declan Rice crossed low, and Havertz arrived at the far post to turn the ball home. It also made Havertz the Premier League’s all-time leading German goalscorer.
Havertz converts Rice cross
Liverpool pressed high early on, and Arsenal’s threat came on the counterattack. Back after a month out, Christos Tzolis twice broke in behind the Liverpool defence inside the first 10 minutes. His first low cross was cut out, and on the second he ran out of room before he could get the ball into the box.
Rice drove a shot well over from 25 yards, and the goal came soon after. Alisson’s rushed clearance was cut out by Martin Odegaard, and the ball was worked quickly to Rice advancing on the right. His low cross ran across the face of goal, and Havertz tapped in at the far post.
Liverpool pile on the pressure
Liverpool pushed back hard. Alexander Isak could not get his head to an inswinging cross in front of goal, and Bruno then stepped in to stop a Barcola run at the near post.
Arsenal still carried a threat at the other end. Bruno dragged a shot just wide after Tzolis led another counterattack, and Noni Madueke was denied by Alisson at the far post from a deep Tzolis cross.
The rest of the half belonged to Liverpool, who were the more dangerous side and forced corner after corner. David Raya had to get down low to keep out a Virgil van Dijk header.
Florian Wirtz went closer still. His free kick from a narrow angle beat everyone and looked to be dropping in, only to strike the crossbar. Alexis Mac Allister then met a left-wing cross in front of goal and headed over the bar.
Liverpool had most of the ball, and much of the play centred on the Arsenal penalty area. Konsa and Gabriel stood firm, though, and the visitors reached halftime with their narrow lead intact.
No way through after the break
Liverpool started the second half strongly, too, and Arsenal had to stay compact and organised. The visitors kept a threat on the break. Tzolis pounced on a slip to burst into the box, and his cross was heading for Odegaard before a well-timed intervention cut it out.
Riccardo Calafiori then saw his low cross cleared on the line as Arsenal came back into the game. Tzolis forced a fine diving save from Alisson soon after, his first-time right-footed shot looking bound for the bottom corner.
Arsenal had work to do in their own box as well, and Jurrien Timber was the next to make a crucial block. The second half passed without a single Liverpool shot on target.
The win carried a milestone with it: 300 away victories for Arsenal in the Premier League. It also returned them to the top of the table.
What’s next
Arsenal head back into Europe in midweek, away to Slavia Prague on Wednesday evening in Matchday Four of the Champions League. Their next Premier League game is at home to Hull City next Saturday, before the November international break.
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