Liverpool made an enormous step towards defending the Premier League title with a victory over last season’s runners-up Arsenal, courtesy of a wonderful free-kick taken by Dominik Szoboszlai in the 83rd minute.
Teams
Szoboszlai was deployed once more on the right defensive flank, with Jeremie Frimpong not expected back before the end of the international break and Conor Bradley obviously still not ready to play the full 90 minutes. Midfielder Stefan Bajcetic was also out.
With Alisson Becker in goal, Szoboszlai was joined by Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez in the back line. Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch started together for the first time this season in the middle of the park, with Florian Wirtz tasked with playing further up between the lines. Cody Gakpo attacked from the left, Mohamed Salah from the right, and Hugo Ekitike through the middle.
Meanwhile, Arsenal had many more injury issues to work around in this game. Forwards Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka were out, as was midfielder Christian Norgaard, and defender Ben White. Captain Martin Odegaard only made the bench after picking up a shoulder problem the previous week, as did newly signed forward Eberechi Eze.
David Raya stood between the posts, with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba starting in the heart of defence. Jurrien Timber covered the right flank, and Riccardo Calafiori the left. Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Declan Rice formed a three-man midfield, while striker Viktor Gyokeres had the support from Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli out wide.
Key moments
Against most expectations, little that was seen in this match needs discussing. Overall, it was a gritty affair, with both side perhaps showing the opposition too much respect and very little attacking intent. An intense battle in the middle of the park led to few chances at either end.
Liverpool dominated possession and did look like a team trying to play football, but Arsenal showed more energy for a large portion of the match and practically stifled the home side’s creativity. Indeed, the Gunners looked like the team more likely to break the deadlock, with their well-documented set-piece threat and corners that came rather frequently.
But nothing Mikel Arteta’s men created could be described as a clear-cut chance, even though Gyokeres, Madueke and substitute Eze could’ve scored. At the other end, Ekitike did poke the ball into the empty net from close range, but the linesman’s flag rightly went up for Gakpo being offside in the buildup.
Therefore, it was no surprise that one goal was enough to decide the outcome, as Arsenal got undone with their own weapon – a set-piece. When referee Chris Kavanagh gave the foul by Martin Zubimendi around 30 yards from Raya’s goal, Szoboszlai, who obviously inherited the free-kick duties from Trent Alexander-Arnold, stepped up and fired a fantastic curler into the top corner, leaving Raya unable to do anything but make it prettier with an attempt at a flying save.
Arsenal understandably spent the remaining minutes attacking in search of an equalizer, but it never looked like happening.
It should perhaps be said that the Gunners had several extremely feeble penalty shouts, in which the referee wasn’t interested at all.
Injury problems
The last thing Arteta needed, apart from Szoboszlai’s goal obiously – happened very early. Less than five minutes in, Saliba picked up an injury and was forced to make way for Christian Mosquera.
Liverpool had that sort of problems as well, with Konate left clutching his leg and making way for Joe Gomez late on, and the same happening to record-signing Wirtz with a minute of the 90 left.
With the international break to follow, both Slot and Arteta will be hoping to have these players back by mid-September, when the Premier League resumes.
Liverpool on top
With three rounds played, Liverpool are the only team in the Premier League with a 100% record. Therefore, they top the table in the English flight with nine points, ahead of Chelsea on seven, followed by the quartet of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, and (surprisingly enough) Sunderland, all on six.
That, of course, means very little at this stage.
Round four will see the reigning champions travel to face Burnley, while Arsenal play host to Nottingham Forest.
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