Havertz goal ends Arsenal's Anfield drought and sends them top

Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday, 1 November 2026, with Kai Havertz scoring the only goal in the 16th minute. The result moved Arsenal to the top of the Premier League, three points clear, and gave them their first league win at Anfield since 2012. Liverpool had 19 attempts on goal but, according to match statistics, did not put a single one on target; Florian Wirtz came closest when he hit the woodwork.

Anfield is a difficult ground for visiting teams, and for Arsenal it had become a long-running barrier. Fourteen years without a league win there is a long time for a club of their size. Ending that run with a clean sheet, against a side that pushed hard for an equaliser, is the kind of result that title-chasing teams point to later in the season.

The way the goal came is also telling. Arsenal pressed Liverpool's goal-kick, won the ball high up the pitch and scored within seconds. Pressing high, to force mistakes close to the opponent's goal, paid off directly for Mikel Arteta's team. Rice's run from midfield to deliver the cross, overlapping the winger Madueke, showed how many players Arsenal commit when they win the ball back.

Arteta called the result historic and said his players "loved the mission" of ending the 14-year wait. He linked the performance to the team's response after a midweek League Cup exit. Arsenal now have eight wins and one defeat from their first nine league matches and lead Manchester City by three points.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said his side deserved a goal and took responsibility for a slow start. He was critical of a penalty decision that went against Liverpool, saying a player who stays on his feet is not rewarded and suggesting his players may need to go down more easily in future. He also noted that the defeat came after a run of five wins.

For Liverpool, the statistics are uncomfortable. Nineteen attempts without one on target suggests they reached shooting positions but could not create clear chances against a well-organised defence. Sitting fifth and nine points off the top, they now have ground to make up if they want to be part of the title race.

The match was followed closely around the world, including in India, where both clubs have many fans.

Short-term: Arsenal take a three-point lead into the next round of matches and a big confidence boost from winning at a ground that had resisted them for years. Liverpool must respond quickly to stop the gap from growing.

Long-term: Wins at the direct rivals' grounds often decide close title races. If Arsenal stay at the top, this result is likely to be remembered as one of the key moments of their season.

Who is affected: Arsenal and Liverpool players and staff; the other title contenders; and millions of fans of both clubs worldwide, including in India.

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