An 83rd minute wonder goal from Liverpool midfielder, Dominik Szoboszlai, proved to be the deciding factor in this top of the table clash at Anfield on Sunday. Given the talent on display this match was surprisingly somewhat unspectacular and seemed destined for a point apiece until the Hungarian international curled in his unstoppable free kick beyond the reach of the Arsenal goalkeeper, David Raya.
Makeshift right-back
After the game, Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised matchwinner Szoboszlai, “I don’t think he changed at all in the last few games compared to what he did last season,” he said. “He’s always been the player that I think understands what a Liverpool player should look like. Slot referenced the fact that Szoboszlai played as a makeshift right back in the last two games, “If you wear this shirt, you should give everything, no matter in what position you play.
“As a midfield, he’s always the first one to track back, to press high, and today, I don’t think he did anything wrong.
“Unbelievable game from him in the position he probably played only two or three times in his life, so it tells you a lot about the mentality he has.”
Setback
Only four minutes of the game had elapsed when Arsenal suffered an early setback, centre-back William Saliba had to withdraw with an injury and was replaced by Cristhian Mosquera, the Spanish centre-half making only his second appearance and first in the Premier League for the north London giants. The sudden change to the established line up could have been somewhat unsettling for the onlooking Arsenal fans but the well drilled and disciplined Arsenal rear-guard maintained their stubborn resistance, with the twenty-one year old slotting in seamlessly with the experienced Gabriel.
A dream Premier League debut and it’s only the beginning. Proud to pull on the Arsenal jersey and ready to build from here. Up the Gunners! pic.twitter.com/2pN6NaaKvE
— Christian Mosquera (@ChrisMosquera_) August 31, 2025
Attacking threat
Arsenal displayed more attacking threat than the reigning league champions in the first half and the first real chance from a corner fell to their recent acquisition from Chelsea, Noni Madueke, who forced Allison into a good save. The England winger again put Liverpool's defence under pressure in the 35th minute, his goal bound shot clipping the outstretched leg of Milos Kerkez and over the crossbar.
A few half chances also fell to Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori, with the Italian international seeing his shot on goal diverted wide and the header from the resulting corner also nodded wide. Liverpool's only threat came in the 13th minute when the lively Cody Gapko fired wide after drifting inside the back line and finding himself in space.
A battling first-half display.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 31, 2025
Let's keep upping the tempo, Gunners 👊 pic.twitter.com/7sblmIyPtA
Reds gain momentum
The restart saw an improved Liverpool and their pressing finally troubled David Raya as he parried away a shot from Florian Wirtz on the hour mark, the ball eventually scrambled into the net by Cody Gapko only to be ruled offside in the build up. That chance rallied the home support though and the team gained momentum with Gapko shooting straight at Raya and Calafiori blocking an attempt from Mohamed Salah as the Liverpool talisman finally began to feature in the match.
Eze makes his debut
In the 70th minute, Mikel Arteta brought on new signing Eberechi Eze and the returning from injury Martin Odegaard to try and find a way through the Liverpool defence in a game that seemed destined to finish scoreless. Liverpool also made substitutions in the 79th minute, Federico Chiesa for Ekitike and Gomez for Konate. The breakthrough came in the 83rd minute though when Liverpool won a free kick 30 yards from the Arsenal goal, Szoboszlai struck it perfectly and it curled over the Arsenal wall and in off the diving Raya's near post. It was the first goal that the Gunners had conceded this season and despite late pressure from the visitors, Liverpool's defence held strong as they had all game to claim all three points. The win sees the premier league champions go into the international break with a 100% record, the only team in the league with three wins from three.
Arteta defends criticism of team tactics
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, challenged the suggestion that he set up the team to avoid defeat, “We didn’t do our game plan to frustrate them, we did it to win it,” the manager said.
“I think we elevated the game and the dominance to a point that they have to raise it.
“They did, especially from the 60-78 (minutes), when then you could see that there were no margins in the game and then when that happens the game is going to be decided in two ways.
“One, with an individual error and two, with a magic moment.
“So, they created a moment that was incredible, that has won the game and that was the difference. Nothing else.”
