Arsenal Take Top Spot After First Anfield Win in 14 Years

Arsenal claimed the Premier League title race lead with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. The result marks the first time the Gunners have won at Liverpool's home ground since September 2012. Mikel Arteta’s team now sits atop the table, holding a three-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the match in the 17th minute. He tapped the ball into the net at the far post following a cross from Declan Rice. The sequence began with a distribution error by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. Havertz’s strike moved him to the top of the all-time Premier League scoring list for German players, with a total of 46 goals, surpassing Ilkay Gündogan.

Liverpool managed 28 touches inside the opposing penalty area during the first half. This figure stands as the highest recorded for a team playing against Arsenal in the first half of a Premier League match since data tracking began in the 2008-09 season. Despite this volume of possession in dangerous territory, the hosts failed to register a single shot on target for the entire game.

The visitors relied on a structured defensive approach to protect their slim lead. Arteta made a tactical substitution in the 62nd minute, replacing Bruno Guimarães with Myles Lewis-Skelly. This change shifted the team’s balance toward attack while maintaining defensive integrity. Liverpool’s attack, featuring Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz, and Cody Gakpo, combined for a transfer fee of £401.5 million.

Arsenal’s attacking lineup of Havertz, Martin Ødegaard, Christos Tzolis, and Noni Madueke cost £187.5 million in total. The disparity in spending did not determine the final score. Liverpool’s manager Andoni Iraola’s high-intensity style was evident as his team pressed forward in the second half. The Anfield crowd remained vocal, supporting the hosts despite the scoreline.

The match ended Liverpool’s five-game winning streak across all competitions. Arsenal had previously struggled at this venue, suffering defeats such as 4-0 in 2021 and 5-1 in 2018. The current squad, bolstered by summer arrivals Ronald Araujo and Jérémy Jacquet, showed resilience in holding off late pressure. The clean sheet sealed the points for Arteta’s side.

Liverpool now trails the league leaders by nine points. The hosts will evaluate their performance, noting the volume of chances created against a disciplined opponent. The victory confirms Arsenal’s status as the team to beat in the current season. They have now won at every Premier League venue except for Manchester City’s home ground.