Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday 1 November 2026 through a 16th-minute Kai Havertz goal. They now lead the Premier League on 24 points, three clear of Manchester City, who lost 1-0 at home to Brighton the day before. It was Arsenal’s first league win at Liverpool in 14 years.
- Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win at Anfield, their first league win at Liverpool in 14 years.
- Arsenal lead the Premier League on 24 points, three clear of Man City, who lost 1-0 at home to Brighton the day before.
- Liverpool had more of the ball (57%) and more shots (14 to 8), but they were wasteful and sit fifth, nine points behind Arsenal.
- Man City have been found guilty of almost all of the 115 charges and have appealed, but no sanction has been confirmed, so the title race isn’t settled.
- Arsenal host Hull on 7 November, then face City at the Emirates on 29 November.
What Happened At Anfield
Arsenal arrived needing a response after a bad week, and they got one quickly. AFP reported that Arteta had been sharply critical after a midweek League Cup exit to fourth-tier Fleetwood. Havertz, who had wasted chances in that game, put Arsenal ahead in the 16th minute with a simple finish from a low Declan Rice cross.
Liverpool answered with their best spell of Andoni Iraola’s time in charge, but it brought no goals. Florian Wirtz curled a free-kick onto the bar, and Alexis Mac Allister headed over from a good position. Iraola was also unhappy that Alexander Isak wasn’t given a penalty after Jurriën Timber held his shirt. Isak stayed on his feet, and the referee didn’t give it.
Arsenal’s defence spent much of the first half hanging on, then settled after the break. Liverpool tired in the second period, and Alisson made a fine save to stop Christos Tzolis’s low shot. Arsenal saw the game out without conceding.
There was a nice human detail behind the managers’ touchline battle. Arteta and Iraola played together as boys for Antiguoko in the Basque Country, and Iraola’s side gave his old friend one of the most uncomfortable afternoons Arsenal have had in recent seasons.
Also Read: Manchester City Thrash Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield After Second-Half Show
Why Liverpool Couldn’t Score
Liverpool started Isak, Wirtz and Bradley Barcola together for the first time in this fixture. All three cost more than £100 million, and there are signs the trio is beginning to click. Barcola’s delivery created the Isak moment, and Wirtz hit the woodwork.
The problem was finishing. Sportradar’s match data gives Liverpool 57% possession and 14 shots to Arsenal’s 8, but Arsenal had three shots on target to Liverpool’s two. It was only Iraola’s second defeat in 14 games since he arrived from Bournemouth, so this was an outlier rather than a collapse. After the match he said it was still very early in the season and described Arsenal as being in the best position, but only at the start of November.
The Numbers
| Team | Played | W | D | L | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 24 |
| Manchester City | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 21 |
| Liverpool (5th) | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
Liverpool are nine points behind Arsenal. Arsenal’s only league defeat so far was 3-0 at Brighton on 19 September. They have scored 14 and conceded 5 in nine games, with six clean sheets. Five of their eight wins came by a single goal, so the margins are thin even if the results aren’t.
Why It Matters For The Title Race
Arsenal’s win followed a day that had already gone their way, because City lost to Brighton on Saturday. That was City’s second straight league defeat after a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa on 24 October. Arsenal have now beaten a direct rival away from home and gone top.
City also face a long-running legal issue. Late in September, an independent panel found City guilty of almost all of the 115 charges the Premier League brought over alleged financial breaches. City lodged an appeal in October, calling the commission’s opinion unsafe and legally flawed. I found no confirmed sanction. Reports of a 40 to 60 point deduction are speculation from pundits and journalists, and the final outcome could take months. Arsenal’s lead is real today, but it isn’t yet a settled title race.
Also Read: Who Leads the Premier League Golden Boot Race? A Complete Overview
Midweek In Europe
Results in the Champions League this week were mixed. Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1 with goals from Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres, though Slavia were much the stronger side in the second half. That kept them unbeaten in the competition on 10 points. Arteta still said his team had plenty to learn after a nervy win.
Man City beat RB Leipzig 3-2, with Erling Haaland scoring the winner in the 78th minute. Liverpool lost 3-2 at Fenerbahçe after leading twice. Iraola’s side had rested some big names, including Isak and Wirtz, and he complained about “cheap, messy goals”.
What Happens Next
Arsenal host Hull City on Saturday 7 November. City visit Nottingham Forest the same day. The fixture that matters most comes on 29 November, when Arsenal host City at the Emirates. Dates and times are from the current fixture list and can change.
The title is decided over 38 games, and only nine have been played. Arsenal have the lead and the momentum, but City and Liverpool are both still in the picture.
Also Read: Harry Kane Wins the 2026 Ballon d Or as England Ends 25-Year Wait
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored in Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal?
Kai Havertz scored in the 16th minute from a Declan Rice cross.
Is Arsenal top of the Premier League?
Yes. They have 24 points, three ahead of Manchester City.
When did Arsenal last win at Anfield?
This was their first league win there in 14 years, according to AFP.
Has Man City been given a points deduction?
Not as far as I could confirm. City were found guilty of almost all the charges and have appealed. No sanction has been publicly confirmed.
When do Arsenal play Man City next?
On 29 November at the Emirates, according to the fixture list.
Sources & References
- ESPN, “Premier League recap: Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 in thrilling game”
- TheScore (AFP), “Arsenal move into 1st place with narrow win at Liverpool”
- Asianet Newsable (ANI), “Arsenal and Man City Clinch UCL Victories as Liverpool Falls Short”
- GiveMeSport, “Man City Facing New Charges After Guilty Verdict”
