Merseyside | Liverpool maintain perfect start

Liverpool 1 - 0 Arsenal

Dominik Szoboszlai’s superb late free-kick secured victory for Liverpool over Arsenal after a tense meeting of Premier League heavyweights.

Author | William G

Stadium | Anfield

Liverpool defended well throughout

The game seemed destined to end in stalemate until the Hungarian midfielder bent a brilliant strike beyond the Arsenal goalkeeper from 30 yards in front of an ecstatic Kop with seven minutes remaining.

Arsenal’s evening was unsettled almost immediately when William Saliba, a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta’s defence, was forced off injured after only five minutes and replaced by summer signing Cristhian Mosquera. Arteta later revealed that Saliba had twisted his ankle in the warm-up.

Chances were scarce as both sides approached the contest with caution. Liverpool thought they had taken the lead when Hugo Ekitike forced the ball over the line, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

Liverpool’s pressure grew in the second half but it was Szoboszlai’s moment of brilliance that preserved their perfect start to the season and condemned Arsenal to a first defeat.

Visit London Super News for the Arsenal reaction.

The champions find a way again

Just before kick-off

Slot's side head into the international break with maximum points from their opening three Premier League games, despite not yet showing the fluency that powered their title success last season.

It is a sobering thought for their rivals, not least the Arsenal side beaten at Anfield, that Liverpool are already setting the pace while still short of their most fluid form. Their 20th league title looks no less secure for it.

The hallmark of champions is the ability to find a way and Liverpool have done just that. Two late goals were needed to see off Bournemouth at Anfield on the opening day, an injury-time strike secured victory at Newcastle, and now another decisive moment has overcome Arsenal.

In a contest where both sides cancelled each other out for long spells, it was Dominik Szoboszlai who settled matters. The Hungarian midfielder delivered a free-kick of the highest quality that left David Raya helpless and ensured Liverpool’s perfect start to the campaign remained intact.