EPL Review: Arsenal ends Anfield Hoodoo, is Carrick in trouble?

  Arsenal's Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Maghalhaes celebrate after final whistle on Sunday at Anfield. Arsenal won 1-0. (Photo credit: Goal) ...

 

Arsenal's Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Maghalhaes celebrate after final whistle on Sunday at Anfield. Arsenal won 1-0. (Photo credit: Goal)

Arsenal’s win at Liverpool was the story of the Premier League weekend, but it was one of several results that reshaped the table.

Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield: a 14-year wait ends.

Arsenal won a Premier League game at Anfield for the first time in 14 years. They had not done so since Mikel Arteta himself was playing in their midfield in 2012. The win lifted the champions to the top of the table on 24 points, and the visiting fans celebrated it as the milestone it was.

It was settled by one goal and one mistake. After 16 minutes, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker tried to find Jeremy Jacquet with a pass that gave the centre-back no chance of keeping possession. Arsenal pounced on the loose ball, and Noni Madueke and Declan Rice combined to set up Kai Havertz, who tapped in at the far post. It was a simple finish, but the build-up was clinical. Arsenal had the ball for only a few seconds before they scored.

Liverpool controlled the game from there. The numbers back that up. They had 57 percent of the possession, 18 shots to Arsenal’s 10, and seven corners to four. Yet they never got the equalizer. The home side struggled to maintain composure in the final third, while Arsenal's experience in the game's gritty aspects prevented them from creating clear chances. Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, and Bradley Barcola all had moments, but none produced the clean contact or final pass that would have made David Raya work hard.

The game also left a refereeing controversy. Jurrien Timber appeared to tug Isak’s shirt as the Liverpool striker went for a header, and the VAR did not intervene. Anfield wanted a penalty. Liverpool had less ground for complaint over the earlier coming together of Gakpo and Christos Tzolis, which was checked and left alone. Referee Michael Oliver’s afternoon was not helped by a bad-tempered second half. Each side collected four yellow cards, and Liverpool picked up the last of them deep into stoppage time.

Arsenal’s approach was the same one that won them the title. They took their one chance, then defended in numbers, with Gabriel and Konsa dealing with anything in the box. Declan Rice and Bruno Guimarães protected the back line in midfield. Arsenal have won all five league games in which they scored first this season. That makes the early goal worth far more than a single lead, and the early Alisson error handed it to them.

For Liverpool it is a painful result because they did so much right and gained nothing. They stay fifth on 15 points, nine behind Arsenal, and the way they lost will frustrate Andoni Iraola. The goalkeeper’s distribution has now cost them in a big game, and the finishing has not matched the build-up play.

Brighton win at the Etihad

The weekend’s other big upset came on Saturday, when Brighton beat Manchester City 1-0 at the Etihad. Yasin Ayari scored the only goal. It was Brighton’s first Premier League win at Manchester City. The city was the better side in the second half but could not score. They had also been beaten by Brighton in a cup tie in midweek, and this was a second defeat to the same opponents in a few days.

The city remains second on 21 points, three behind Arsenal, and a lead that stood at zero before the weekend is now three points for Arsenal. Brighton climb to third on 19 points, which makes them genuine contenders for a Champions League place.

Chelsea beat ten-man United.

Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0, and United played much of the match with ten men. The win moves Chelsea up to fourth on 16 points. United are 17th on seven points, with one win from nine games, and the pressure on the club is growing. The poor start has now stretched across the first two months of the season, and the gap to the bottom three is only a point.