For this third day of the Premier League, Liverpool received Arsenal in Anfield. The Reds, winners of Bournemouth (4-2) and Newcastle (3-2) during the first days, showed some defensive flaws that Konaté was absolutely to correct this Saturday. Arsenal, solid behind and hitting in attack since the start of the season, arrived with confidence after his successes against Manchester United (1-0) and Leeds (5-0). The Gunners aligned themselves in 4-3-3 with Raya in the cages, Saliba and Gabriel in central defense, and gyökeres in a point, supported by Madueke and Martinelli. Liverpool played in 4-2-3-1 with Alisson, Van Dijk, Konaté, Szoboszlai in lateral and Kerkez, Gravenberch and Mac Allister in the middle, Wirtz in support of the attack composed of Salah, Gakpo and Ekitike. After the two draws (2-2) of the previous season between the two teams, this match held all its promises, with key players such as summer recruits Madueke, Gyökeres, Wirtz. Ekitike, just summoned with the Blues after Cherki's package, was to continue on his good series.
The start of the match between Liverpool and Arsenal was quite balanced, especially since from the start of the game, William Saliba came out on injury in the 6th minute, replaced by Cristhian Mosquera. Then, the Reds quickly took control of the ball, spreading the sides with Szoboszlai and Kerkez and seeking Hugo Ekitike in depth, during the first quarter of an hour, without successfully worried David Raya. Arsenal calmed the tempo with long phases of possession and some in -depth calls from Martinelli and Madueke on the wings. But, once again, without really creating danger. Cody Gakpo attempted his luck in the 13th minute, while Gyökeres put a big pressure on Alisson in the 31st minute. The first thirty minutes showed a disputed and balanced game, without clear advantage for one or the other team. In the last quarter of an hour of the first half, the two teams pushed, with Calafiori close to opening the scoring on a strike finally out of frame, Noni Maduekesta on the right and Mac Allister stopped in the axis, but no goal was scored. The two PL teams left back to back at halftime.
Liverpool and Dominik szoboszlai defensively
No change at the break, the two coaches trusted the same actors. Liverpool first turned the ball in his half field and took the time to build, Gakpo being pressing on the left to win a touch against Timber. Wirtz tried to find Mac Allister in the axis, but its transmission was too long, while Konaté went up the ball to the Arsenal camp, recovered by Merino. Rice launched Gyökeres on the left, well rejected in touch, and Martinelli was wanted in depth without success. Gravenberch, found between the lines by Mac Allister, struck from afar, but his attempt went to the left, while Madueke caused the right before Kerkez conceded a corner. Arsenal also tried to project itself, and Hugo Ekitike was sanctioned on a right -in -law fault on Calafiori. Liverpool then saw its refused goal: Wirtz checked and chained a volley pushed by Raya, Gakpo was broke, and Ekitike had marked by throwing itself on the ball, but the action was canceled for a situation of offside.
In an intense end of the match, Liverpool had a crucial success against Arsenal thanks to a sublime free kick by Dominik Szoboszlai. In the 66th minute, Viktor Gyökeres was warned for a fault on Virgil Van Dijk, before Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konaté were physically affected and received care in the second period. Arsenal has made several changes, with the entry of Eberechi Eze, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli, while Liverpool called on Federico Chiesa, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo. Despite some hot situations, including attempts by Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa, the Reds have held good defensively. In the 84th minute, Szoboszlai opened the score with a full -axis magic kick 25 meters, beating David Raya and offering the first goal of the Premier League season for the Hungarian. In the last minutes, Liverpool managed the latest Arsenal assaults, with Van Dijk, Szoboszlai right and Alisson who pushed the last offensives. Liverpool therefore won 1-0 and inflicted on the Gunners their first defeat of the season.
