Arsenal Hold Off Liverpool for First Anfield Win Since 2012
Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday. Kai Havertz scored the only goal after 16 minutes.
- 24 points from nine games puts Arsenal top, three clear of City.
- 13 previous Anfield visits had produced no Arsenal win since September 2012.
- Havertz finished a low Declan Rice cross after Liverpool lost the ball in their own half.
- 0 shots on target for Liverpool, the second straight meeting without one.
Why it matters: Arsenal, the defending champions, now lead the table. Liverpool, who had won five straight in all competitions, drop to fifth, nine points back.
- The win came days after Arsenal lost a League Cup tie to League Two side Fleetwood Town.
- Manchester City lost at home to Brighton on Saturday and stay on 21 points.
How 11 sources split on this story
Where they split: Before kickoff, outlets disagreed on the favorite: Heavy cited Opta models giving Arsenal the edge, while The Independent pointed to Liverpool's form under Andoni Iraola.
Center coverage, 5 sources: The center framed the match in advance as a pivotal title-race fixture, weighing Opta odds against Arsenal's poor Anfield record.
Left coverage, 3 sources: The left frames the result as Arsenal showing a champion's control, ending a long Anfield drought with a statement win.
Right coverage, 3 sources: The right framed the match in advance as a blockbuster, with Arsenal trying to break a 14-year Anfield jinx after a cup humiliation.
What’s next: Arsenal will be without Max Dowman, who is serving a three-match ban from the Fleetwood tie.
- Virgil van Dijk was booked at full time for sarcastically applauding referee Andy Madley.
- Will the outcome of the case over Manchester City's alleged financial rule breaches affect the title race?
- Can Liverpool stay in the title race nine points behind the leaders?
