Havertz Goal Hands Arsenal First Anfield Win in 14 Years

Arsenal won at Anfield for the first time in 14 years on Sunday, defeating Liverpool 1-0 to take the top spot in the Premier League.

The victory broke a long-standing drought. The last time the Gunners won at that venue was in 2012. Current manager Mikel Arteta was playing in the midfield during that match.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game in the 16th minute. He finished a close-range pass at the back post.

Declan Rice provided the assist with a low cross across the face of the goal. The setup began when Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker attempted a short pass from the back.

Martin Odegaard intercepted that pass and launched a counterattack. The play moved to the right side where Rice delivered the cross. Havertz's strike made him the all-time leading German scorer in the Premier League with 46 goals.

Arsenal maintained a firm defensive structure throughout the match. They kept their sixth clean sheet in the last nine games.

Declan Rice credited the team's unity after the final whistle. He said the defensive line and the way they stick together is undefeated. He described the togetherness as something he has never seen before.

Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target. They had several appeals for penalties rejected during a heavy attack in the final quarter of the first half.

Florian Wirtz hit the crossbar with a free kick, while Alexis Mac Allister headed a ball over the bar from an unmarked position.

The result moves Arsenal to first place in the standings. They now have eight wins for the season and hold a three-point lead over Manchester City.

Arsenal is also five points ahead of Brighton, which sits in third place. Brighton is the only team to have beaten the defending champions this season.

Liverpool drops to fifth place, now nine points behind the leaders. This loss ends a streak of five consecutive victories for the Reds. Their previous defeat came against Manchester City at Anfield on Oct. 11.