Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal: Szoboszlai stunner earns early title advantage

Dominik Szoboszlai pulled off the sublime to earn Liverpool victory over their title rivals, with his free-kick clinching a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Anfield.

Mac Allister replaces Jones in only change

Arne Slot made only one change to the side that started against Newcastle, with Alexis Mac Allister back fit to take Curtis Jones‘ place in midfield.

That meant Szoboszlai was retained at right-back with Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez – the latter attracting late transfer interest – on the bench.

Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka missed out for Arsenal but Martin Odegaard was able to take a place among Mikel Arteta’s substitutes after a shoulder problem.

A dull first half with few chances

The opening half-hour played out exactly as expected, with neither side showing real thrust in attack and much of the game taking place in the middle third of the pitch.

Arsenal were forced into an early change due to an injury for William Saliba, with Cristhian Mosquera taking over at centre-back, though their usual rigidity remained.

Liverpool’s struggle to craft opportunities came with a sluggish display from Florian Wirtz in the No. 10, with the club-record signing too slow to release the ball on more than one occasion.

Predictably, Arsenal‘s focus was on set-pieces, but what is typically their biggest strength was dealt with comfortably by the champions throughout the first half – aided by poor delivery from Declan Rice in particular.

The biggest chance came with Virgil van Dijk pouncing on a loose ball in the middle, but with space opening up for the captain he opted against a shot and instead flicked a pass that was easily cleared.

Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Arsenal

Szoboszlai wins it with 35-yard rocket

There were no changes in personnel at the break and no changes in the landscape of the tie as it got back underway, with it remaining an attritional contest.

Liverpool finally had the ball in the back of the net after Hugo Ekitike pounced on a Wirtz shot spilled by David Raya, but Cody Gakpo‘s touch ruled the goal out for offside.

Slot made his first substitution straight after, and it was Mac Allister off and Jones on in a demonstration of fitness management.

The hosts were certainly the stronger of the two sides after the hour mark and Slot looked to capitalise with the introduction of Federico Chiesa, while Gomez replaced the injured Ibrahima Konate.

Fittingly, the telling moment came from a set-piece, and it was Liverpool who made the most of theirs: Szoboszlai capping another impressive showing at right-back with a stunning free-kick from 35 yards out.

It was a goal worthy of the occasion; pure quality was required to break the deadlock and a player who some felt would struggle to make it into Slot’s strongest XI this season made another statement over his undroppable talent.

With victory over Arsenal and Man City slipping up earlier in the day at Brighton, Liverpool head into the break already two points clear at the top.

Three wins from three. The champions are on a roll despite being far from their best.

TIA Man of the Match: Dominik Szoboszlai