Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal: Havertz sets the game at Anfield

Arsenal won at Anfield for the first time in 14 years after Kai Havertz's strike sealed a gritty 1-0 victory - but Liverpool were denied what looked to be a clear penalty.

Match Report

Kai Havertz was the hero as Arsenal defeated Liverpool 1-0, securing their first Premier League win at Anfield in 14 years and leapfrogging Manchester City to go top of the table.

Havertz tapped Rice's centre home in the 16th minute, becoming the leading German goalscorer in Premier League history and giving Mikel Arteta's side a lead they would not relinquish.

Florian Wirtz hit the crossbar, and Alexis Mac Allister missed a glorious headed chance, but Liverpool faded as the contest went on and ultimately did not hit the target with any of their 17 shots.

While Arsenal now sit three points clear of City at the summit, Liverpool are nine points back of the leaders in fifth. 

There was no sign of an Arsenal hangover following their midweek EFL Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town, as they came flying out of the traps.

Alisson's loose pass out from the back gifted the Gunners possession, and after Bruno Guimaraes worked it right to Noni Madueke, Declan Rice overlapped and provided a pinpoint cross, from which Havertz could not miss.

Arsenal were extremely fortunate not to concede a penalty when Alexander Isak's shirt was pulled by Jurrien Timber, just as the Swede looked set to turn Bradley Barcola's cross home, though Havertz almost had a second goal when he slid in and missed Guimaraes' centre.

After a lucky bounce off Ezri Konsa rescued David Raya, who was under pressure from Isak, Cody Gakpo saw another penalty appeal waved away, with Arsenal's goal now fully under siege. 

And the Gunners had two huge let-offs at the end of the first half, with Wirtz's free-kick rattling the crossbar and Mac Allister heading over when totally unmarked. 

Isak sliced wide of Raya's near post from Liverpool's first chance of the second period, but the tempo of the game dropped as Arsenal sunk into a rigid block. And, as Andoni Iraola's men misfired, Arsenal went closer to scoring an insurance goal. 

On his return from injury, Christos Tzolis saw a cutback cleared by Jeremy Jacquet just when Martin Odegaard was ready to sweep into the net, and the Greek later saw a smooth snap-shot palmed around past the post by Alisson.

Liverpool threw men forward in the latter stages, but they never truly tested Raya as Arteta was able to celebrate a huge victory.

Anfield hoodoo over for Arteta as Liverpool make unwanted history

Arsenal have made a habit of breaking new ground under Arteta, though Anfield was one of the last frontiers left for the Spaniard to conquer as a Premier League manager.

Indeed, the Gunners arrived at Anfield winless in their last 13 Premier League visits since a 2-0 victory in September 2012 (D5 L8), their joint-longest run in league play at the venue, and six of those trips had come under Arteta (D3 L3).

Arsenal's previous 13-match winless streak on the red side of Merseyside was broken in memorable fashion, with a final-day victory to secure the First Division title in 1988-89.

But they did not have things all their own way after Havertz's goal, which was his 46th in the Premier League, surpassing Ilkay Gundogan (45) as the competition's most-prolific German.

Liverpool had 28 touches in Arsenal's area throughout the first half, the most on record (since 2008-09) by any team in the opening period of a Premier League game against Arsenal.

However, the Reds could not convert that pressure into a goal, failing to have a shot on target in a home Premier League game for the first time on record (since 2003-04), in what was their 442nd league game at Anfield in that period. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' Nyoni has violated the rules in the battle for the ball as he pulled down Odegaard

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3' Gabriel is down painfully covering his face, and he appeals for a foul

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5' A pass by Gakpo ends up in no man's land, and the attacking effort comes to an end

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8' Isak sends a through pass into the box for Barcola, but Raya reacts well to stop him

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10' Nyoni makes a reckless foul in order to win the ball from Havertz

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14' Tzolis looks to break free, but Araujo clears the ball away

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15' Declan Rice has a go from a long way out but it sails way over

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16' GOAL! Rice plays a lovely pass and finds Havertz, who strikes the ball in! Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal

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18' Barcola races towards goal but the defender gets back well to make a challenge

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21' Barcola clips a neat ball into the box for Isak, but he can't get on the end of the pass

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22' Barcola tries to send a pass but it's blocked

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24' Madueke plays a lovely pass into Guimaraes, but his strike goes wide of the left post

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25' Rice picks up a pass and fires towards the bottom right corner, but Alisson makes an easy save

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27' Wirtz floats the free kick into the box, but it's easily cleared

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28' Wonderful pass from Van Dijk for Isak, but they can't profit from it as Raya comes off to collect

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29' Gakpo breaks into the box and goes over after a challenge, but the ref signals NO penalty

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31' Kerkez latches on to a cross on the edge of the box, but his strike goes wide

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36' Isak goes for goal but he directs his effort just wide of the left post

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37' Highlight from Liverpool vs Arsenal

39' Wirtz fires the ball from the free kick and it smashes against the crossbar

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42' Kerkez pings in a cross, but Mac Allister sends his header just over the bar

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47' Yellow Card! Barcola booked

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55' Madueke goes into the book for a late challenge

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56' Kerkez sprays a pass out to Isak, but he produces a poor effort which goes high over the bar

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58' Szoboszlai replaces Trey Nyoni

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62' Guimaraes is replaced by Lewis-Skelly

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66' Wirtz connects with a pass but sees his shot from the edge of the box blocked

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67' Yellow Card! Milos Kerkez booked

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68' Highlight from Liverpool vs Arsenal

71' Calafiori attempts to find his teammate with a final pass, but VVD clears the ball to safety

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72' Yellow Card! Lewis-Skelly booked

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73' Tzolis unleashes a fine strike towards the net, but Alisson pulls off a reflexive save

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77' A pass lands at the feet of Araujo in the box, he shoots but the effort is blocked

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80' Timber and Mac Allister are booked yellow for their behaviours

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81' Araujo, Wirtz and Kerkez go off as Munoz, Koumas and Tsimikas come on

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84' Havertzand Tzolis walk off, replacing Gyokeres and Hincapie

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88' Merino is brought on as a substitute for Odegaard

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88' Szoboszlai is brought down on the edge of the box, but the ref signals no foul

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Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Isak, Gakpo, Araujo, Mac Allister, Barcola, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz, Trey Nyoni, Jérémy Jacquet

Subs: Endo, Joe Gomez, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Gravenberch, Víctor Muñoz, Lewis Koumas, Rio Ngumoha

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Ødegaard, Guimaraes, Rice, Ngoyo, Gabriel, Havertz, Madueke, Timber, Calafiori, Christos Tzolis

Subs: Kepa, Merino, Viktor Gyökeres, Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi, Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly