Arsenal’s long-running Anfield struggles continued as Liverpool snatched a late 1-0 victory, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning 83rd-minute free-kick sealing the points.
The clash was billed as an early test between the reigning champions and their closest challengers, but Mikel Arteta’s conservative approach left Arsenal toothless in attack.
The Gunners, despite a £248m summer outlay that brought in striker Viktor Gyökeres and playmaker Eberechi Eze, rarely troubled a Liverpool side that has shown defensive weaknesses this season.
Arteta, without injured stars Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and William Saliba, set his team up to contain rather than conquer.
Mikel Merino started in midfield while Eze was held back until the final 20 minutes, by which time Liverpool’s defence, led by Virgil van Dijk, stood firm.
The defeat extended Arsenal’s miserable run at Anfield — winless in 13 league visits since 2012, with only one clean sheet in their last 27 games there.
Arteta defended his side, insisting Arsenal were “much better than last year” and lamenting their failure to convert chances.
But once again, the Gunners were left chasing a statement victory that never came.
Liverpool, far from their fluent best, nonetheless made it nine points from nine, laying down an early marker in the title race.
For Arsenal, the wait for an Anfield breakthrough — and the bolder edge required to topple the champions — goes on.
