Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal ended a 14-year wait for the visitors, but the part Liverpool had to chew on this morning came after 58 minutes, when Andoni Iraola sent off the 19-year-old who was running his midfield.
Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute strike on Sunday sealed the deal and saw him overtake Ilkay Gundogan as the German’s top scorer in Premier League history. It was Arsenal’s first top-flight win at Anfield since 2012 and it moves them three points clear of Manchester City. “Liverpool” is in fifth place, 9 points behind.
The numbers tell you how weird the afternoon was. Liverpool had 56% possession in the first half alone, 17 shots into the Arsenal box and 28 touches, the most by any side in a first half against Arsenal (since 2008-09). None of those shots hit the target. Opta’s record dates back to 2003-04 and in 442 league games at Anfield since then, it has never been done before.
How did Arsenal score the only goal?
Liverpool gave it to them. Arsenal won the ball back as the hosts tried to play from a goal kick, Declan Rice headed over Noni Madueke on the right and Havertz was free at the back post. Iraola did not hide from this: “It’s true that we conceded a goal when we broke the goal kick.”
Alisson Becker’s part in the affair proved costly, as going backwards for this Arsenal side on 16 minutes is the worst thing that could happen at Anfield. They scored and then dropped deep and Liverpool spent the rest of the day trying to pick the lock. Iraola accepted as follows: “It’s true, they probably didn’t need to take risks and go deeper.”
In fairness to Alisson, he kept the score level in the second half with a stunning save from Christos Tzolis’ first-time shot. Arsenal won’t care what he looks like. Liverpool never forced David Ryan to save a shot on target and Ezri Konsa was excellent at the back. Ugly or not, you’ll want to play the hosts at Anfield on Sunday at 4.30pm.
How good was Trey Nyoni in his first league start?
We got it wrong. Based on Iraola supporting the practice, our projected line-up included Ryan Gravenberch alongside Alexis Mac Allister. Instead, Gravenbirch sat on the bench for the full 90 minutes and Nyoni, who has made 12 substitute appearances in the Premier League and started the cup tie against Chelsea in midweek, took the shirt. He is the second Liverpool teenager to make his first Premier League start against the reigning champions since Raheem Sterling did against Manchester City in 2012.
Iraola told Sky Sports before kick-off: “He plays very well and we trust him. I think he gives us good control of the ball.”
He was right and for us Nyoni was Liverpool’s best player. Our favorite pass was his through the Arsenal midfield to the feet of Mac Allister. It’s a risky ball for a 19-year-old in a game of his stature, and he opens up the field every time he comes off the pitch.
He also solved the ballless problem. Dropping into space on the left next to Virgil van Dijk, he gave Liverpool back three in possession and allowed Milos Kerkez to break forward. Arsenal could never quite settle who was taking Kerkez and he was getting into the box in a way we rarely see from him. Half an hour after the goal was Liverpool’s best spell of the match and Nyoni’s movement was a big part of that.
Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal: What changed after 58 minutes?
Dominik Szoboszlai replaced Nyoni and Anfield held on to send the teenager off. The urgency went away. Liverpool struggled to string three passes together and when they did, the ball moved too slowly to trouble Arsenal’s deep defence.
This is not a stick to beat Szoboszlai with. He was just back from injury and brings quality to the last ball. But Liverpool traded for a player who kept the striker safe, at the moment they most needed someone to take risks.
Iraola went for the long-range option: “I decided to finish with Rio [Ngumoha]With Victor [Munoz]even putting Dom [Szoboszlai]maybe we can try different methods to see if we can score from a shot outside the box. The closest he came to this plan was to block Ronald Araujo’s close-range effort. Munoz, who did not appear until the 82nd minute, then headed Kostas Tsimikas’ pass, but did not have the strength to trouble Ryan. It was Liverpool’s last opener and they finished the match without a single shot on target.
Where did the Liverpool attack go?
Nyoni wasn’t the reason Liverpool lost, the backline was too. Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet and Van Dijk all did their part. But no one in red could hit the target, and the most obvious place to watch is the front four of Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak.
- Wirtz: In the first half, Liverpool hit the crossbar with a free-kick that was as close as they came and barely deflected.
- Barcola: Jurrien Timber gave him a lot of space in the first half and he did very little with it, then deteriorated after the break.
- Steel: a quiet afternoon and depart for Rio Ngumoha after 67 minutes. We would like to see Ngumoha sooner.
- Isaac: Kerkez missed a tight angle after putting it in and otherwise received very little service.
And not once. Opta has Liverpool with four league goals at Anfield this season, the fewest they have scored after five home games in a top-flight campaign (the others being 1913-14 and 2012-13), and they have earned clean sheets at home against Arsenal, Manchester City and Fulham. Sunday’s gap was the worst of them as Liverpool had too much possession and too many touches in the box.
Was Isak’s shout a penalty?
Liverpool’s successive appeals were denied and in the first half Timber had to pull Isak’s shirt. Iraola was blunt: “I think Isak is the exact penalty. He will put the ball in front of the goal and they catch it where everyone can see the shirt.”
He added: “Probably because he didn’t sink or land, that shouldn’t be a reason to miss the penalty.” Van Dijk told Sky Sports: “I think it was a clear penalty as well, I saw it back.”
We think they have an argument, but Iraola said he’s not using that as an excuse “We can’t waste too much time on the referee’s decisions.” Liverpool had enough possession and enough touches in the box to make it irrelevant.
Should Mac Allister go down?
Which brings us to the 79th minute. Mac Allister was Liverpool’s other standout player, the only player to attack them from defense in the second half, and his header from Kerkez’s cross before half-time was just what Iraola said. “very clear chance”. One meter down and that’s a different article.
Then Madueke, already on yellow from the 55th minute, nodded to him as they gathered and Mac Allister went down. “Liverpool” wants a red card. VAR said no.
#LIVARS – 79′
The referee’s call for Madueke not to abuse Mac Allister was reviewed and upheld by VAR.
VAR: “All the situations have been checked and cleared. There is some connection like Madueke and Mac Allister square. I think it is not strong, not …
— Premier League Match Center (@PLMatchCentre) November 1, 2026
Mac Allister was booked for his part in the brawl and Jamie Carragher criticized the reaction. So are we, and it doesn’t matter what shirt he wears. It spoiled a very good performance. We would say the same thing to everyone: get up.
Verdict: Nyoni should stay
Liverpool have now lost twice under Iraola, losing twice to both sides, City and Arsenal. It’s not a crisis, and he’s right when he says the season is long. But any talk of a title race can stop for now. It was a reality check, and the top four is a more sensible target than fifth place and nine points behind.
In our preview, Iraola’s Reds flew this one. Few teams maintain the lead like Arsenal, so you can’t read too much into a narrow defeat, but the honest answer is that Liverpool are a step behind for now.
It showed who makes them play forward. Fenerbahce will go to Fenerbahce on Wednesday, then to Crystal Palace on Sunday, the last league game before the international break. Nineteen or not, we’d keep Nyoni on the sidelines at Selhurst Park and not be in a rush to get him out.