Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield to claim Premier League top spot

Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in a Premier League match on November 1, 2026, with Kai Havertz's early goal securing a victory that put the champions top of the table. The win moved Arsenal three points clear at the summit of the league.

Mikel Arteta's side replaced Manchester City at the top with 24 points from nine games, while City sat on 21 after losing at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, their second successive league defeat after winning their first seven. Liverpool's second league defeat of the season left them nine points behind Arsenal in fifth place.

The only goal came in the 16th minute when Havertz tapped in from Declan Rice's low cross after Liverpool were caught trying to play the ball out of their defence. The move unfolded when the ball was played out to Noni Madueke, who found the overlapping Rice; Rice slid a pass across for Havertz, ending his nine-game goal drought.

Liverpool responded before half-time, with Florian Wirtz curling a free kick against the crossbar and Alexis Mac Allister heading a good chance over the bar. Iraola's team dominated the rest of the half and had a strong penalty shout turned down when Jurrien Timber grabbed at Alexander Isak's shirt.

Arsenal weathered that spell and defended robustly after the break, keeping Liverpool largely at arm's length and denying them clear sights at goal. The visitors recorded their sixth clean sheet in nine league games and prevented Liverpool from registering a single shot on target.

"This means a lot to the whole football club and ⁠it's been 14 years, that is a crazy stat and I think that we are all happy that we gave it to them today," Havertz said. "I think we all know what this ‌stadium is about and what the fans are about. Liverpool have big players and they can show their quality. We knew that this ‌was coming for us and we all stuck together and defended together."

"That is the Anfield way, that is what this Liverpool team can do ‌and they just create waves and waves of attack. Relentless attacks," Rice said. "We knew it wouldn't have been easy but in the end that defensive line and ​that togetherness is undefeated. "So happy for Havertz because he deserved that goal and ultimately the 1-0 win."

The victory was Arsenal's first Premier League win at Anfield for 14 years, and the players celebrated in front of their joyous fans.