Havertz goal ends Arsenal’s 14-year Anfield wait and sends them top
Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win at Anfield on Sunday, their first league victory there since September 2012, ending a 14-year wait. Declan Rice’s superb cross set it up, and Mikel Arteta’s champions defended stubbornly against a Liverpool side that pressed hard.
Liverpool ended without a shot on target, according to Opta, who did not count a late Barcola effort that Raya gathered easily. Arsenal saw out six added minutes with Merino, Hincapie and Gyokeres on for Odegaard, Tzolis and Havertz to protect the lead.
Tempers flared in the 79th minute when Alexis Mac Allister fouled Odegaard and squared up to him, sparking a clash in which Noni Madueke touched foreheads with him and Jurrien Timber joined in. VAR chose not to intervene, and Mac Allister and Timber were booked.
Arsenal might have sealed it earlier. Christos Tzolis, back from six weeks out, squared when he could have shot after Jeremy Jacquet slipped, then five minutes later curled a low effort that Alisson tipped around the post. Raya was booked later for time-wasting.
Liverpool lost their way after the restart. Dominik Szoboszlai replaced Trey Nyoni in the 59th minute, with Rio Ngumoha coming on for Cody Gakpo soon after, but the home side’s link-up play around the box lacked quality and they kept resorting to crosses.
Arteta’s side were happy to play ugly. Arsenal went long with 18.1 per cent of their passes, their highest rate of the season, and Raya sent around three-quarters of his distribution downfield, accepting a season-low 72.8 per cent pass completion to avoid being pressed.
Liverpool pinned Arsenal back after going behind, attempting 19 crosses in the first half. Florian Wirtz’s free-kick hit the bar in the 39th minute, and Mac Allister headed over from close range after a Milos Kerkez cross shortly before the break.
Alexander Isak had mixed fortunes. Timber tugged his shirt in the 20th minute as he went for a cross, and replays suggested a sustained hold, but referee Andy Madley waved play on and VAR stayed out. Raya later denied him and he shot wide.
Liverpool’s mistake handed Arsenal the goal. An Alisson pass-out under pressure squirted loose when Odegaard pounced, Arsenal quickly moved it right through Bruno Guimaraes and Tzolis, and Rice ran around Madueke before crossing for Havertz at the far post to score.
Trey Nyoni, making a first Premier League start, was lucky to stay on the pitch, committing two late challenges on Odegaard and Havertz that went unpunished. Liverpool had started brightly, with Gakpo dragging a shot wide in the fifth minute.
The win lifts Arsenal three points clear of Manchester City, who lost to Brighton on Saturday, as they bid to retain the title for the first time since the 1930s. Liverpool are fifth, nine points off the top, with work to do for Andoni Iraola.
Rice’s assist was his fifth in the league, matching last season’s total, and all five have come from open play. It was also Arsenal’s 19th one-goal win since the start of last season, and Arteta’s first at Anfield in charge.
Both sides turn attention to the Champions League on Wednesday, November 4. Liverpool travel to Fenerbahce for a 5.45pm GMT kick-off, while Arsenal visit Slavia Prague, with that match starting at 8pm GMT.