Nairobi, Kenya | November 1, 2026

Arsenal strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal in the 16th minute as Arsenal ended a 14-year wait for a league victory at Liverpool’s home ground. The Gunners had not won a Premier League match at Anfield since September 2012.

Arsenal capitalised on Liverpool’s attempt to play out from the back when a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Alisson allowed Martin Odegaard to win possession. The ball was worked to Declan Rice, whose low cross found Havertz at the far post for a composed finish.

Liverpool responded by increasing the pressure but struggled to turn their possession into clear chances. Arsenal remained compact, limiting space around the penalty area and forcing the hosts to rely largely on efforts from distance and set pieces.

Florian Wirtz came closest to an equaliser when his free-kick struck the crossbar, while Alexis Mac Allister headed over the bar from a promising position. Liverpool were unable to register a shot on target throughout the match, underlining Arsenal’s defensive control.

Arsenal also threatened on the counterattack as they looked to extend their lead. Alisson produced an important save to deny Christos Tzolis, but the visitors ultimately had to settle for a narrow victory.

Declan Rice was particularly influential, contributing to the winning goal while helping Arsenal maintain control in midfield. His performance earned him recognition as one of the key figures in Arsenal’s disciplined display.

The victory also marked Mikel Arteta’s first Premier League win at Anfield as Arsenal manager, ending one of the more difficult away records of his tenure.

Arsenal now sit at the summit with 24 points from nine matches, three points ahead of Manchester City, who suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

For Liverpool, the defeat ended their five-match winning run and left them nine points behind the league leaders.

Arsenal will return to Premier League action on November 7 when they host Hull City, while Liverpool travel to face Crystal Palace the following day.

The result gives Arsenal an important advantage at the top of the table and further strengthens their title defence, with Arteta’s side demonstrating that they can combine attacking efficiency with the defensive discipline required to win at difficult venues such as Anfield.