Liverpool secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Anfield, thanks to a spectacular free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai in the 83rd minute, cementing their place at the top of the Premier League heading into the international break.
Match Overview
Liverpool kept their perfect start to the season, winning their third consecutive match and remaining the only team with maximum points so far. The game was tightly contested with Arsenal dominating early possession, but after a goalless first half, Szoboszlai—playing out of position at right-back—delivered a curling free kick from over 30 yards, beating Arsenal keeper David Raya and sending Anfield into celebration.
Key Moments
- William Saliba Injury: Arsenal suffered an early setback when defender William Saliba went off injured within five minutes, being replaced by summer signing Cristhian Mosquera.
- Arsenal’s Missed Opportunities: Noni Madueke troubled Liverpool’s defense and forced Alisson into a smart save mid-way through the first half, but Arsenal failed to capitalize on their chances.
- Liverpool’s Disallowed Goal: In the second half, Florian Wirtz’s powerful strike was parried by Raya, and Ekitike bundled in the loose ball, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
- Decisive Free-Kick: After a foul on Curtis Jones 30 yards from goal, Szoboszlai stepped up and struck an unstoppable free kick into the top-left corner.
Tactics and Lineups
- Liverpool: The Reds adjusted to injuries with Szoboszlai deputising at right-back and Wirtz starting, while Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah provided attacking options. Konaté and Wirtz both picked up minor injuries and had to be substituted late in the match.
- Arsenal: Mikel Arteta introduced Eberechi Eze for his debut and Martin Ødegaard to spark creativity, but the Gunners failed to break through Liverpool’s resilient defensive setup.
Player Ratings
Liverpool
- Dominik Szoboszlai: 8.5–10, Man of the Match for the winning goal and defensive contributions.
- Virgil van Dijk: 7.5–9, dominated defensively, pivotal in keeping a clean sheet.
- Alisson Becker: 6.5–7, made vital saves to keep Arsenal out.
- Milos Kerkez: 7, handled Madueke’s threat efficiently throughout.
- Florian Wirtz: 7, energetic midfield presence until substituted with a cramp.
Arsenal
- Noni Madueke: 6.5, lively early on, faded in second half.
- Cristhian Mosquera: 7.5, impressive defensive cover after Saliba’s injury.
- Viktor Gyokeres: 5, struggled to influence the game.
Post-Match Reaction
Gary Neville praised Liverpool’s mentality and questioned Arsenal’s ability to deliver in big matches, noting that the Gunners missed a psychological boost to win at Anfield.