Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal: Anfield Blank Leaves Iraola Nine Points Adrift

That changed on Sunday, when Kai Havertz's 16th-minute goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win and their first victory at Anfield in 14 years. The result leaves Mikel Arteta's side top of the table, three points clear of Manchester City and nine ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool.

The goal itself was a gift. Alisson played a goal-kick into space, apparently expecting Jérémy Jacquet to move into the area. Martin Ødegaard forced the turnover, Declan Rice overlapped Noni Madueke and crossed, and Havertz steered the ball into an empty net at the back post. It was the kind of goal that flatters the pressing side and embarrasses the one trying to play out.

Liverpool's response was substantial in volume and negligible in threat. They had 17 attempts to Arsenal's 10, 56 per cent possession, seven corners to four, and 48 touches in the opposition box — well above their average of 36.8 across earlier 2026/27 matches in all competitions. Their expected goals of 1.15, however, sat well below their earlier-season average of 2.08. Florian Wirtz hit the crossbar from a free kick. Alexis Mac Allister headed a clear chance off target. And that was it: no saves forced, no shots on target, no goal.

The raw numbers and the match reports diverge in an instructive way. A side with 17 attempts and 48 box touches is usually described as dominant. Liverpool were not. Arsenal's 0.96 xG was close to Liverpool's 1.15, and the visitors managed three shots on target to Liverpool's none. The difference between the two sides was not territory but the final action — the pass, the touch, the finish that turns possession into a save or a goal.

There was also a flashpoint. Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak's shirt in the first half, and no penalty was given. Andoni Iraola called it "a clear penalty," saying Isak was going to head the ball in front of goal and was grabbed "where everyone sees the shirt." The decision did not definitively cost Liverpool the match — they still had 17 attempts and failed to test the goalkeeper — but it added to the sense of a costly missed opportunity.

The broader question is what this result says about the distance between Liverpool now and Liverpool at their recent best. Under Jürgen Klopp in 2019/20, Liverpool took 2.61 points per game across a 38-match league season, winning 32 and losing three. Under Iraola in 2026/27 so far, they have 1.88 points per game from eight matches, with four wins, three draws and one defeat. That is a small sample, and the comparison is not like-for-like in squad or circumstances. But the direction is clear enough to ask whether the current attacking balance can sustain a title challenge.

The summer turnover offers part of the explanation. Ronald Araujo, Jérémy Jacquet, Lucca Brughmans, Djylian N'Guessan, Bradley Barcola and Víctor Muñoz arrived. Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajčetić, Carter Pinnington, Ibrahima Konaté, Harvey Elliott and Andrew Robertson departed. That is a significant rebuild of the defensive and wide areas, and it has coincided with a finishing return that ran cold against Arsenal: Liverpool's goals minus expected goals in this match was -1.15, against an average of 0.0 across their earlier 2026/27 matches in all competitions.

One match is not a trend. But the pattern of high box touches and low xG against Arsenal — 48 touches and 1.15 xG, against earlier averages of 36.8 and 2.08 — suggests a side getting into dangerous areas without converting that access into clear chances. Whether that is a finishing problem, a chance-creation problem, or a temporary cold spell is the question the next matches will answer. What is already clear is that Liverpool cannot afford many more afternoons like this one if they are to close a nine-point gap to Arsenal.