LIVERPOOL — Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick gave Liverpool first blood against Arsenal with a 1-0 win in yesterday’s battle between the Premier League title favourites.
A tense tussle at Anfield looked set to end in a stalemate until the Hungarian’s 83rd-minute strike ensured the defending champions are the only side with a perfect record from the opening three games of the new Premier League season.
In all three matches, Arne Slot’s men have scored late winners, also overcoming Bournemouth and Newcastle in dramatic fashion.
Liverpool may still be a work in progress after overhauling the squad that romped to the title last season.
But they remain the team to beat thanks to an abundance of attacking talent capable of match-winning moments like the one Szoboszlai produced.
“We are not perfect, we weren’t perfect last season, but (we have) a great mentality and everybody works so hard to get a result over the line,” said Slot.
Liverpool could even be stronger come the end of the transfer window tomorrow as they look to add Newcastle’s unsettled striker Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi to bolster their defence.
Arsenal have backed Mikel Arteta with over £250 million (RM1.4 billion) worth of new signings in a bid to usurp the Reds and win the Gunners’ first Premier League title since 2004.
The visitors were hampered by the absence of the injured Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.
But Viktor Gyokeres did little to silence doubts that he can make the step up from a prolific spell at Sporting Lisbon to the Premier League as the Swede was easily marshalled by Virgil van Dijk.
“An incredible moment won them the game,” said Arteta, who said his side need more killer instinct to win the biggest games.
“That is the edge and when it’s not him (Szoboszlai), it’s (Mohamed) Salah or someone else. With the dominance and how we play the game, it’s very clear we have to finish the moments to win the game.”
To add to the Gunners injury woes, William Saliba went off inside the opening five minutes, replaced by Christhian Mosquera.
The Spanish under-21 international is yet to make a Premier League start but was not seriously tested as Liverpool’s new-look attack struggled to click into gear.
Despite defensive issues this season, Slot again named a front four of club record signing Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike.
At Arsenal, Noni Madueke’s arrival was not met with enthusiasm by fans who even started a petition to block the England international’s £48.5 million move from Chelsea.
Yet, deputising for Saka on the right wing, Madueke was by fair the visitors biggest threat.
Milos Kerkez struggled to deal with Madueke’s pace and was fortunate to deflect the winger’s strike onto the roof of the net with the best attempt of a disjointed first half.
The second half followed the same cagey pattern with both sides wary of risking a damaging early defeat in the title race.
