Anfield has been Arsenal’s problem address for more than a decade. On Sunday they turned up and solved it in a quarter of an hour.

A loose pass out from Alisson, a Declan Rice overlap, and a close-range finish from Kai Havertz settled a lunchtime fixture that Arsenal spent the next 74 minutes defending with their teeth. It was their first league victory at Anfield since 2012.

Mikel Arteta’s side now sit on 24 points after nine matches, three clear of Manchester City and nine ahead of the champions, who have slipped to fifth.

Havertz punishes an Alisson gift

The decisive move began with Martin Odegaard intercepting a wayward pass from the Liverpool goalkeeper high up the pitch. Rice surged past on the overlap and clipped a low cross to the back post, where Havertz was waiting for a simple finish in the 16th minute. It was the German’s goal; it was Rice’s assist; it was really Alisson’s mistake.

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What followed was less an Arsenal performance than an Arsenal act of survival. Liverpool had 56% possession, eight shots to Arsenal’s five and six corners to one, yet they failed to put a single effort on target. Florian Wirtz hit the crossbar from a free kick. Alexis Mac Allister headed over from close range. David Raya was busy without ever being seriously tested.

Madueke survives a VAR check

Mac Allister fouled Odegaard and, in the aftermath, slapped his head, prompting an angry response from Jurrien Timber. Noni Madueke then put his head towards Mac Allister’s and survived a VAR check from referee Andy Madley’s team. Timber and Mac Allister were booked. Madueke was not.

Liverpool slip to fifth as champions misfire

Arne Slot’s side were defending champions a season ago. Nine games in, they look nothing like it: four wins, three draws, two defeats. On a day they outshot Arsenal and outpassed them, they did not force Raya to make a save.

Arsenal’s next league game is at home. They will go into it top of the table for the first time this season.

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