Liverpool beat Arsenal by a minimal 1:0 in the big derby of the third round of the English Premier League. The clash between the first and second of last season offered a lot of emotions and joy to the home fans at Anfield. Arne Slot's Reds remained the only ones without a wrong step since the beginning of the campaign.

The opening minutes passed with a miss by Cody Gakpo from distance and a save by Alisson after a shot by Noni Madueke. Arsenal controlled the ball in the first half, but remained only with Madueke's shot. On the other side, Liverpool rarely threatened David Raya, with the best chance opening up in front of Virgil van Dijk, who took the ball away when the Gunners made a mistake in their build-up play, but then the Dutch made the wrong decision. Mikel Arteta's team was also forced to bring in new signing Cristhian Mosquera in place of injured first-choice centre-back William Saliba.

After the break, Liverpool picked up the pace and Arsenal began to allow passes between the lines. Florian Wirtz started to play strongly, and Raya had to intervene twice on shots by Gakpo and Wirtz. When the second shot was fired, the Spaniard cleared it and the home team scored, but Gakpo was offside. Then came the decisive moment in the match. In the 83rd minute, Dominik Szoboszlai, who had been put again at right-back for the second consecutive match, stood behind the ball to take a direct free kick and left Raya no chance with a virtuoso right-footed finish that hit the side post and beat the visitors' goalkeeper.

By the end, Ibrahima Konate and Wirtz were forced off the pitch, and their condition is still unknown. Arsenal tried to put more pressure on the opponent's penalty area after the entry of new acquisitions Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard, but despite several crosses, they never found a way to Alisson's goal.

Thus, Liverpool remains perfect - three wins from three matches, against Bournemouth, Newcastle and now Arsenal, occupying the top of the standings, the only one with a perfect record. Arteta and company lost for the first time this season and remain with six points. The team continues to be winless at Anfield in the Premier League - the last time they were victorious was back in 2012.

In the next round after the international break, Arsenal hosts Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool visits newcomers Burnley. | BGNES