Arsenal eked out its first win at Anfield in 14 years by beating Liverpool 1-0 through Kai Havertz’s first-half goal to climb to first place in the Premier League on Sunday.
Not since 2012 — when current manager Mikel Arteta was commanding the team’s midfield — had Arsenal won at Liverpool’s intimidating home ground.
The curse was broken by Havertz, who slotted home a close-range finish at the back post after a low centre across the face of goal by all-action midfielder Declan Rice in the 16th minute.
Arsenal then defended doggedly, especially in the first half when the visitor was pinned back by Liverpool, to keep its sixth clean sheet in nine games of a title defence that is going according to plan.
With this eighth victory of the campaign, the Gunners leapfrogged Manchester City into top spot.
The loss breaks a run of five straight wins by Liverpool since its only previous defeat this season — by Man City, also at Anfield on October 11.
Liverpool vs Arsenal Player Ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (6.6), Araújo (7.1), Jacquet (6.6), van Dijk (7.5), Kerkez (7.0), Mac Allister (7.2), Nyoni (6.5), Gakpo (6.0), Wirtz (6.2), Barcola (6.0), Isak (6.4)
Substitutes: Szoboszlai (6.5), Ngumoha (6.4), Tsimikas (unrated), Koumas (unrated), Munoz (unrated)
Arsenal: Stripe (7.2), Timber (7.6), Konsa (7.9), Gabriel (7.2), Calafiori (7.1), Guimarães (6.9), Rice (8.1), Madueke (7.7), Ødegaard (7.6), Tzolis (7.0), Havertz (7.7)
Substitutes: Lewis-Skelly (6.7), Hincapié (unrated), Gyökeres (unrated), Merino (unrated)
(With AP inputs; Rating from Fotmob)
Published on Nov 02, 2026