Arsenal end Anfield drought with 1-0 win over Liverpool
Kai Havertz’s goal earned Arsenal a 1-0 Anfield win, their first there since 2012, and a 300th Premier League away victory as they returned to top spot.
· Kickhell
Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield, ending a 14-year wait for an away win at the ground. Kai Havertz scored in the 16th minute, and the result was Arsenal’s 300th Premier League away victory.
Havertz stole in at the far post to convert Declan Rice’s low cross. The goal also made him the all-time leading German goalscorer in Premier League history.
The match numbers showed Liverpool dominating the volume of play but failing to turn it into a result. They had 56 percent possession to Arsenal’s 44 percent and took 17 shots to Arsenal’s 10, including 14 from inside the box compared with Arsenal’s six.
Liverpool managed no shots on target, while Arsenal recorded three. Each side created one big chance, but Liverpool missed theirs and Arsenal did not. As Liverpool pushed for an equaliser, David Raya saved a Virgil van Dijk header.
Havertz was the standout for Arsenal, scoring with his only shot on target before playing 84 minutes as a starter. Rice registered the assist from his three shots, one of which was on target, across 90 minutes. Florian Wirtz had three shots for Liverpool over 81 minutes, but none resulted in a goal or assist.
The lineup changes shaped the second half. Liverpool brought on Dominik Szoboszlai in the 59th minute and Rio Ngumoha in the 67th, then made several changes in the 81st minute, including Lewis Koumas, Victor Munoz and Konstantinos Tsimikas. Arsenal introduced Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie in the 84th minute, with Mikel Merino coming on in the 88th. None of the changes brought Liverpool an equaliser.
Discipline was a feature, with Liverpool picking up several yellow cards: Bradley Barcola in the 45th minute plus two, Noni Madueke in the 55th, Milos Kerkez in the 67th and Alexis Mac Allister in the 80th. Arsenal’s cautions went to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 72nd, Jurrien Timber in the 80th and David Raya in the 90th plus three.
The result leaves Arsenal back on top of the table on 24 points after eight wins from nine matches, with no draws and one defeat. They have scored 14 goals and conceded five, and their form over the last five is W-W-W-W-L. Liverpool have four wins, three draws and two defeats from nine games for 15 points, with 11 goals scored and nine conceded; their recent run is L-W-W-L-W.
Liverpool’s attacking volume was not reflected on the scoreboard. Arsenal did less with the ball, but Havertz’s finish and a resolute defensive effort were enough to end the Anfield drought and secure a landmark away win.
