Declan Rice stars as Arsenal win at Anfield for first time since 2012

Arsenal won at Anfield for the first time since 2012, beating Liverpool 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz's first-half goal. Declan Rice was the standout performer with an 8/10 rating, while Liverpool's Florian Wirtz was criticised for not doing enough in a big game.

  • Result: Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal
  • Goal: Kai Havertz (first half)
  • Venue: Anfield
  • Competition: Premier League
  • Player of the match: Declan Rice (7.41 average user rating)
  • Key moment: Alisson's poor pass led to Havertz's goal

Confirmed line-ups

Liverpool (4-3-3)

Starting XI: Alisson; Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Trey Nyoni, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz; Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak

Substitutes: Szoboszlai, Ngumoha, Munoz, Koumas, Tsimikas, Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Gravenberch

Arsenal (4-3-3)

Starting XI: David Raya; Jurrien Timber, Ezri Konsa, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes, Martin Odegaard; Noni Madueke, Christos Tzolis, Kai Havertz

Substitutes: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Piero Hincapie, Viktor Gyokeres, Merino, Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Eze, Zubimendi

Selection notes

Liverpool handed a first Premier League start to 19-year-old Trey Nyoni, a show of faith from manager Andoni Iraola. Arsenal's Noni Madueke started after shaking off a knock, while Christos Tzolis made his first start since September after injury.

Player ratings: Liverpool

Alisson (4): His poor pass out led to Havertz's goal. Made a great save to deny Tzolis but the mistake proved costly.

Ronald Araujo (6): Made his 12th consecutive start. Battled well but was given a tough test by Tzolis down Arsenal's left.

Jeremy Jacquet (6): Shaky in patches but had a decent game overall and made a superb tackle after slipping in the second half.

Virgil van Dijk (6): Reliable as ever but will be disappointed with how easily Liverpool gifted Arsenal the lead.

Milos Kerkez (5): Frustrating first half but delivered a lovely cross which Mac Allister should have headed in.

Trey Nyoni (6): A real show of faith from Iraola to give the 19-year-old his first Premier League start. Looked nervy early on but grew into the game.

Alexis Mac Allister (6): Constantly involved in the first half but should have scored when Kerkez found him.

Bradley Barcola (7): Started down his preferred left flank and caused Arsenal plenty of problems, though he is still waiting for a first Premier League goal.

Florian Wirtz (6): Hit the bar with a great free-kick in the first half, but a player with his price tag simply has to do more in big games.

Cody Gakpo (5): Looked lively initially, but Calafiori dealt with him very well. Could have had a penalty, but the appeal was waved away by Andy Madley.

Alexander Isak (5): Got in some good positions but couldn't find the net. Unlucky not to get a penalty when his shirt was pulled by Timber.

Subs: Szoboszlai (6), Ngumoha (5), Munoz (NA), Koumas (NA), Tsimikas (NA).

Player ratings: Arsenal

David Raya (7): Made a good clearance after a ball was played through the Arsenal defence in the first half. The usual assured performance.

Jurrien Timber (7): Involved in a very good battle with Barcola and had to deal with a lot of attacks down the right side. Perhaps lucky to not give away a penalty for a shirt pull on Isak.

Ezri Konsa (8): Continued his recent good form and was solid in the middle of the Arsenal back four.

Gabriel Magalhaes (8): Dealt with the threat of Isak and led the Arsenal backline.

Riccardo Calafiori (8): Not allowed to attack as much as usual but a solid defensive performance from the left-back.

Declan Rice (8): Provided the assist for Havertz's goal and was Arsenal's best player. His energy in midfield was a big reason the Gunners won the game.

Bruno Guimaraes (6): An all-action display and involved in the move for the Arsenal goal. Subbed just after an hour.

Martin Odegaard (6): Won the ball back which started the move for the Arsenal opener.

Noni Madueke (6): Heavily involved in the opening goal as he started after shaking off a knock. Tired as the game went on.

Christos Tzolis (6): The winger's first start since September after injury and provided a threat from the left. Forced Alisson into an excellent save with a curling effort.

Kai Havertz (7): Scored the only goal of the game, which he needed after a difficult couple of matches. Put himself about and linked the play.

Subs: Myles Lewis-Skelly (7), Piero Hincapie (6), Viktor Gyokeres (6), Merino (NA).

The numbers

  • Declan Rice was the highest-rated player with an 8/10 from BBC Sport and a 7.41 average user rating.
  • Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes both received 8/10 for their defensive displays.
  • Alisson received the lowest rating of any starter (4) after his error.
  • Bradley Barcola was Liverpool's best-rated player (7).
  • Trey Nyoni made his first Premier League start at 19 years old.

Why Arsenal's midfield won the battle

Declan Rice's energy and assist were pivotal, but the foundation was laid by Arsenal's defence. Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes were rock-solid, dealing with Alexander Isak's threat and allowing Riccardo Calafiori to focus on defending rather than attacking. That platform freed Rice to dominate the midfield.

Liverpool's midfield, by contrast, was overrun. Trey Nyoni's first Premier League start showed promise but he was nervy early on, and Florian Wirtz, despite hitting the bar with a free-kick, failed to impose himself on a big game. Wirtz's price tag demands more in these moments, and his 6/10 reflects that.

The game turned on Alisson's error, but Arsenal's organisation and resilience ensured they held on for a historic win.

Talking points

  • Should Andoni Iraola have started an inexperienced Trey Nyoni in such a high-stakes game, or was it a necessary gamble given injuries?
  • Was Jurrien Timber lucky to escape a penalty for his shirt pull on Alexander Isak, and did the officials get the big calls right?
  • Florian Wirtz's performance raises questions about whether he can deliver in big games for Liverpool, especially given his price tag.
  • Kai Havertz's goal could be the turning point of his Arsenal career—can he now kick on after a difficult couple of matches?

What happens next

Arsenal go top with this win and will look to build on it in their next Premier League fixture. Liverpool, meanwhile, must regroup after a rare home defeat, with manager Andoni Iraola facing questions about his midfield selection. The January transfer window may also prompt both clubs to assess their squad depth.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Arsenal's best player against Liverpool?

Declan Rice was Arsenal's best player, according to BBC Sport's ratings, earning an 8/10 for his all-round display and assist for the goal.

Did Alisson make a mistake for Arsenal's goal?

Yes, Alisson's poor pass out led to Kai Havertz giving Arsenal the lead, and he received a 4/10 rating.

Who made their first Premier League start for Liverpool?

Trey Nyoni, 19, made his first Premier League start for Liverpool, a show of faith from manager Andoni Iraola.

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