Liverpool, Sep 1: A moment of brilliance from Dominik Szoboszlai proved decisive as Liverpool edged past Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield in a tense Premier League clash on Sunday.
The Hungarian midfielder’s superb free-kick from 30 yards, struck eight minutes from time, handed the Merseysiders all three points and ended the Gunners’ nine-month unbeaten run away from home in the league.
In what was largely an even contest, both sides defended resolutely and limited clear-cut chances. Arsenal’s new signing Eberechi Eze came off the bench for his debut, but Mikel Arteta’s men were unable to break down the hosts in the closing stages, bringing an end to their six-match unbeaten run against the Reds.
Defensive Blow for Arsenal
The game began with early frustration for the visitors as William Saliba limped off injured just four minutes into the match, forcing Arteta to bring on Cristhian Mosquera for only his second league appearance. Despite the reshuffle, Mosquera partnered Gabriel well to keep Liverpool quiet for most of the opening 45 minutes. The Reds’ only real opportunity in the first half fell to Cody Gakpo, who cut inside before firing wide in the 13th minute.Arsenal, meanwhile, looked the brighter going forward. Noni Madueke, starting on the right in place of the injured Bukayo Saka, was lively throughout. His sharp effort midway through the first half forced Alisson into a fine save, before another mazy run past Milos Kerkez ended with his shot being deflected over the bar. Defender Riccardo Calafiori also came close with two half-chances before the interval, but neither side could find the breakthrough.
Liverpool Find Their Moment
After the restart, Liverpool began to assert themselves. Florian Wirtz forced David Raya into a strong save on the hour mark before Gakpo’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside. Spurred on by the home crowd, Mohamed Salah grew into the game, though his efforts were blocked by Calafiori and Declan Rice.
Arteta introduced captain Martin Odegaard and handed Eze his first minutes in a Gunners shirt in search of control, but the decisive moment arrived at the other end. Awarded a free-kick from distance in the 82nd minute, Szoboszlai stepped up and curled an unstoppable strike over the wall and past Raya, the ball clipping the post before rippling the net.
Arsenal threw men forward in the final stages, but Liverpool’s defence stood firm. The champions held on to preserve their perfect start to the season, while ending Arsenal’s 15-match unbeaten league run away from home that stretched back to November 2024.For Arsenal, it was a night of frustration and missed opportunity. For Liverpool, it was another reminder of their resilience and their ability to conjure decisive moments when it matters most. (Agencies)