Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield to take Premier League lead

Liverpool approached the Anfield meeting with a chance to close the gap on Arsenal. On October 30, Soccer News Football reported that victory would leave Liverpool three points behind their opponents, but Andoni Iraola was resisting talk of a title challenge.

Arsenal had their own reason to seek a response. They were second in the table and coming off a surprise League Cup fourth-round exit, according to Al Jazeera. Their record at Anfield added another obstacle: the BBC reported that they had not won there since 2012.

On October 30, Anfield Index reported that Liverpool were set for a double injury boost ahead of the game. The available coverage flagged a Szoboszlai injury update but did not establish a final starting lineup.

On October 31, Soccer News Football reported that Virgil van Dijk believed Liverpool were adapting to Iraola's tactics after a strong start under him. The match offered a test of that progress against a team above them.

By November 1, Arsenal also had a fitness concern. EPL Index reported that Noni Madueke faced a race to be fit for the Anfield trip.

Once the match began, Arsenal struck first. ESPN FC reported that Kai Havertz opened the scoring after 16 minutes in a raucous first half, while Liverpool went close several times to an equaliser.

Liverpool could not turn those chances into a goal. ESPN recorded a 1-0 Arsenal victory, with Havertz's finish settling the match and ending the visitors' long wait for an Anfield win.

Arsenal are now three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, according to Al Jazeera. L'Équipe reported that City had lost to Brighton the previous day, opening the way for Arsenal to reclaim first place.

For Arsenal, the result combined an immediate response to their cup exit with a first Anfield victory since 2012. For Liverpool, a match that offered the chance to narrow the gap instead ended in defeat, despite the first-half opportunities described by ESPN FC.