Key stats
- Dominik Szoboszlai's goal was the first direct free kick scored in this Premier League fixture since Philippe Coutinho in August 2016.
- Liverpool have now scored in 37 Premier League matches in a row, which is their longest ever run of scoring in consecutive top-flight matches.
- William Saliba's fifth-minute substitution was the earliest for an Arsenal starter in a Premier League game since Laurent Koscielny in November 2012 (4th min v Everton).
Highlights
Match report
It was an inauspicious start for the visitors, who had to contend with a William Saliba injury, forcing him off just five minutes into the contest.
Undeterred, the Gunners produced the first genuine chance when Noni Madueke swung a boot at a loose ball, forcing Alisson Becker into a smart save.
After a conservative and measured first half hour, a misjudged pass from David Raya allowed Virgil van Dijk to steal possession high up the pitch, but nothing came of the opening.
Since the start of 2023/24, no side in Europe’s top five leagues had converted more corners than Arsenal’s 33, yet Liverpool remained organised to repel several deliveries, seeing last season’s top two sides go in level at the break.
Playing in his favoured right-wing role in the absence of Bukayo Saka, Madueke posed a considerable threat in the first period, and that continued after the restart.
Nonetheless, it was Liverpool fans who were briefly celebrating on the hour mark, seeing Hugo Ekitike react first to help bundle over the line after Raya had parried Florian Wirtz’s close-range strike, only for the flag to be raised for offside.
Facing Liverpool for a third time in his last four club games, Eberechi Eze came off the bench to make his Arsenal debut alongside captain Martin Ødegaard, but neither was able to make an impact before Dominik Szoboszlai bent a spectacular free-kick beyond Raya’s outstretched glove.
That late strike sets a club record 37th successive PL game in which they’ve scored and extends Liverpool’s 100% start to the season, with their solid home H2H record bolstered.
Despite a creditable away performance, Arsenal came away with nothing, losing ground on the Reds at this very early stage of their title challenge.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Analysis
Dominik Szoboszlai was the highest-ranked player in the match and scored the winning goal with a superb free-kick.
Arsenal dominated the first half but couldn't find a breakthrough. They withstood plenty of Liverpool pressure in the second half but Szoboszlai's goal proved decisive.
Post-match reaction
Liverepool defender Dominik Szoboszlai explained his goal to Sky Sports: "I took a risk. I was confident in myself, so I tried it and yeah, finally. I should mention Trent (Alexander-Arnold). He was taking the free kicks because, obviously, he has an unbelievable shot. But finally I could have my chance and yeah, I did it.
"I had to take a risk and shoot it a little bit harder because I know Raya likes to jump behind the wall and, of course, he's an unbelievable goalkeeper. So if I think it goes a little bit more inside, he saves it."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports: "Very proud of my players, I think both teams elevated the game to a level that there was no margins between the two and very little happens, a lot of action in many areas, not that much in the boxes.
It was going to be decided in two possible actions, an individual error or a magic moment and it was decided in a magic moment. You cannot dominate here for 95 minutes, it's impossible.
You need to find a way to win these big matches. You have to put the ball in the back of the net when you have it, we were much better than last year when we drew the game, much, much better.
"Today when we have three, four or five situations inside the box, one vs one, when Eze is completely through just to finish the action. You have to put those balls in the back of the net if you want to win the game."