LIVERPOOL, England — Dominik Szoboszlai scored one of many biggest free kicks in Premier League historical past to seal a 1-0 win for Liverpool towards title rivals Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday.
The Hungary worldwide beat Gunners keeper David Raya from 30 yards with a strong right-footed strike within the 83rd minute after Liverpool had struggled to make any headway towards Mikel Arteta’s facet. Arsenal had managed the sport with out having the ability to create clear probabilities they usually paid the value when Szoboszlai scored his unbelievable free kick — an effort that drew comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunner for Manchester United towards Portsmouth in 2008.
Liverpool’s win means they’re now the one staff within the Premier League with a 100% report after simply three video games of the season and it strikes them to prime of the desk forward of second-place Chelsea going into the worldwide break. — Mark Ogden
Within the early weeks of the marketing campaign, a number of Liverpool stars have grabbed the headlines. Summer season signing Hugo Ekitike has been rightly lauded for his high quality begin to life in a crimson shirt, whereas Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha have stolen the present with profitable cameos towards AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United, respectively.
On Sunday, although, it was unsung hero Szoboszlai who put his identify up in lights with a stunning free kick to seal a treasured three factors for Arne Slot’s facet. It’s a minimum of the Hungary worldwide deserves and additional underlines his significance as one of the essential cogs within the Liverpool machine.
With accidents to each Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong in latest weeks, Szoboszlai has been drafted in at proper again and was arguably Liverpool’s man of the match towards each Newcastle and Arsenal. His relentlessness and athleticism have been instrumental in two enormous victories for the champions, and he confirmed his class on the different finish of the pitch on Sunday by curling dwelling an exceptional strike from 30 yards.
Regardless of Liverpool’s raft of summer season signings, Szoboszlai appears set to be one of many first names on the teamsheet for the foreseeable future. — Beth Lindop
Florian Wirtz and Viktor Gyökeres arrived within the Premier League this summer season as two of the largest incoming signings — the previous because the £116.5 million British report at Liverpool — however each are struggling to accept their new golf equipment. That they have been each signed as potential match winners, the keys that might unlock doorways, makes their early performances much more alarming.
Wirtz has carried out little of notice within the Liverpool No. 7 shirt up to now, and his recreation towards the Gunners ended with the previous Bayer Leverkusen ahead limping off clutching his proper thigh. The Germany worldwide is clearly a cultured participant, however the velocity of the sport in England is leaving him in a whirl proper now, and he wants to regulate to make an influence for Slot’s facet.
The identical applies to Arsenal ahead Gyökeres, who has been underwhelming since finishing a £64 million transfer from Sporting CP.
He scored twice in final week’s 5-0 win at dwelling to Leeds United, however at Manchester United on the opening day and at Liverpool on Sunday, he regarded properly out of his depth. The Sweden worldwide was dominated bodily by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté and he by no means posed a risk.
The previous Coventry Metropolis striker appears off form having had a disrupted preseason, however whereas he has ended Arsenal’s seek for a middle ahead, he appears a great distance from being the completed article. — Ogden
On the full-time whistle, Anfield let loose an almighty roar. We is perhaps solely three video games into the brand new Premier League season, however already there’s a sense that Liverpool — psychologically, at the very least — have gained essential early floor on this season’s title race.
Earlier than Sunday, Liverpool hadn’t overwhelmed Arsenal within the Premier League since March 2022. Of the six subsequent encounters, the Gunners had received two and could have fancied themselves to proceed that sturdy report towards a Liverpool facet that has been defensively porous in latest weeks.
It was not a classic Liverpool show by any means, nevertheless the champions — as champions so usually do — discovered a option to win. There may be nonetheless a really lengthy option to go earlier than the foremost prizes are handed out, and Arsenal have proven sufficient in these early weeks of the season to recommend that they’ll very doubtless be in rivalry for silverware come the spring.
For now, although, Liverpool are the one staff within the Premier League with their 100% report nonetheless intact, having overwhelmed each Bournemouth and Newcastle already this time period. There are points for Slot to iron out however, so far as title defenses go, Liverpool have made a reasonably spectacular begin. — Lindop
Noni Madueke was the big-money signing that the Arsenal supporters didn’t need this summer season.
When information of the membership’s curiosity within the Chelsea and England winner grew to become public, Madueke was focused on social media by Gunners supporters who believed that the 23-year-old was not ok for his or her staff. It was a sickening marketing campaign concentrating on the participant, however Madueke vowed to show his price in an Arsenal shirt, and he did simply that at Anfield.
Madueke’s work down the correct helped Arsenal management the sport and he repeatedly obtained the higher of Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez. Arsenal weren’t capable of capitalize on Madueke’s efficiency, however make no mistake, he silenced his critics along with his efficiency. — Ogden
For all of the speak of Liverpool’s defensive struggles over the previous few weeks, it was in assault that Slot’s facet struggled to shine towards Arsenal.
Throughout their first two video games of the season, Liverpool conceded 4 targets, with Konaté coming in for loads of criticism for his nervy shows. Nonetheless, towards Arsenal, the France worldwide was one of many standout performers in a again line that decreased their opponents to an anticipated targets (xG) worth of simply 0.39.
Alongside him, Kerkez — who has additionally been underneath loads of scrutiny in latest video games — additionally impressed regardless of the enjoyment Madueke discovered on his flank, though it was a harder afternoon for his or her colleagues within the ahead line. Liverpool recorded an xG of simply 0.34 and, for a lot of the afternoon, struggled to create massive probabilities towards a sturdy Arsenal protection.
In the end, Slot’s facet got here away with the victory, nevertheless the shortage of attacking recreation changers from the bench — despite Chiesa and Ngumoha’s latest heroics — was evident. Liverpool’s ahead choices might be bolstered within the subsequent 24 hours if they’re able to safe a deal for wantaway Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, but when not, the Reds danger going right into a busy few months with a worrying lack of offensive choices. — Lindop
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