Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool applauds supporters. Photo: Photosport
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai struck the first telling blow in the English Premier League title race with a dazzling free kick late on giving his side a 1-0 victory over rivals Arsenal in a cagey contest at Anfield.
Both sides had won their opening two games to set the early pace and it looked like they had opted to keep their powder dry for the battles ahead until right back Szoboszlai stepped up in the 83rd minute to seal it.
After Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi brought down the speeding Curtis Jones around 30 metres from goal, it looked a long way out but Hungarian Szoboszlai struck his right-foot effort with power and precision to leave David Raya clawing at thin air.
"I had to take a risk and shoot a little bit harder because I knew Raya likes to jump behind the ball. He's an unbelievable goalkeeper. If it goes a bit more inside he saves it," said Szoboszlai, who was outstanding all afternoon.
It was a rare moment of quality in a game that promised a great deal but delivered little in terms of excitement.
But champions Liverpool, who looked rock-solid again after having conceded four goals in their opening two games, will not care about that as they made a big statement of intent in their quest to win back-to-back titles.
Arsenal have not won a league game at Liverpool since 2012 and that sequence now extends to 16 matches.
"It was going to be decided in two possible actions, an individual error or a magic moment and it was decided in a magic moment," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
Sucker punch
Arteta's Arsenal, having spent 260 million pounds (NZ$600 million) in the summer window in a bid to dethrone Arne Slot's Liverpool and claim their first title since 2003, might have been expected to show more adventure against the hosts.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
They largely controlled the game and prevented Liverpool from registering a touch in the visitors' area for 33 minutes and did not concede a corner until the 70th.
But apart from the pace of Noni Madueke they looked tame and were punished for their conservatism as the hosts floored them with a late sucker punch.
"In the end you need to find a way to win these big matches," said Spaniard Arteta, whose side have finished runners-up for three successive seasons.
Fans of tactical chess matches would have found some intrigue in the opening half at a sunny Anfield but the cautious approach of both sides hardly made for a great spectacle.
Arsenal were not helped by the loss of central defender William Saliba after five minutes to an ankle injury, the Frenchman being replaced by new signing Cristhian Mosquera.
Madueke's pace troubled Liverpool fullback Milos Kerkez and it was the former Chelsea player who finally forced a goalkeeper to make a save with a first-time shot from a half-cleared corner that Alisson kept out with a regulation stop.
Quiet Wirtz
Liverpool did have the ball in the net on the hour after Hugo Ekitike bundled home when Raya failed to hold a shot by the otherwise quiet Florian Wirtz but the offside flag was up.
With 20 minutes remaining Arsenal's Eberechi Eze came off the bench for his first appearance since his big-money move from Crystal Palace earlier this month, but this was not a day for their attacking players, including striker Viktor Gyokeres, to remember with any degree of affection.
Liverpool did exert more control as the minutes ticked down but a point apiece looked a foregone conclusion until Szoboszlai sent the Kop into raptures.
Early in the season it may be, but Liverpool will head into the international break right where they want to stand at the top of the table, two points clear of second-placed Chelsea and three ahead of a chasing pack led by Arsenal.
"If you win against a team like Arsenal, who last season were such a good team and have strengthened so much, to win against them is very positive," Liverpool boss Arne Slot said.
"We will know at the end of the season what it's worth."
Manchester City lose again
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was left to rue a second-half collapse by his side after a bright opening hour as they succumbed to a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
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City led in the first half through an Erling Haaland goal on his 100th Premier League appearance and looked in control for 60 minutes until a James Milner penalty brought the hosts level.
As Brighton's intensity increased, City failed to cope with their movement and conceded again late on to Brajan Gruda's fine individual goal.
"We conceded the goal and after that, it (the momentum) shifted," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "Until then it was really, really good, we had chances and the team looked aggressive and dynamic.
"We made a good hour and then after the last half an hour, we were not good. We forgot to pass the ball, just played long balls and we were not good enough. It is what it is."
Guardiola fielded midfielder Rodri for a full 90 minutes but admitted the changes he had made to his squad last season and this have led to a period of adaptation for the players.
"We have a really good squad and of course we changed many things from the past to now, which is normal," the Spaniard said. "We need the new players to adapt and we need the older ones to help them to cope.
"Rodri played a really good performance and he is a top character. I'm happy he played 90 minutes."
City have suffered back-to-back losses after defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in their previous league game, but Guardiola said he was not thinking of the title race yet.
"The season has just started. There is a long, long season ahead of us. We will see what happens," he said.
City are next at home to local rivals Manchester United after the international break and then travel to Arsenal.
- Reuters
