Liverpool vs Arsenal: Live coverage of key Premier League clash

Live updates:

19:58 CET – Now to Van Dijk and he is not a happy man. Van Dijk said on Super Sunday: “Disappointment, disappointment.

“We had some opportunities, we tried everything. I think we could have maybe done a bit better towards the last 15 minutes of the game to get more balls in the box.

“But it wasn’t enough today and that’s why disappointment is definitely the feeling I’m having.

“After we conceded the goal, we started to play much better. A big chance from Alexis could have changed the game.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, but we all know, in the second half, anything could still happen and we kept pushing and going for it.”

19:52 CET – As we wait for some reaction from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, how about this for a stat! Today was the first match Liverpool failed to have a shot on target at Anfield… ever.

19:33 CET – Stay with us here as we have plenty of reaction to come! First up, the player of the match, Declan Rice and the match winner, Kai Havertz, have spoken to Sky Sports.

Declan Rice speaking to Sky Sports: “This is what this stadium does to you, you know. It just creates waves after an attack, and you have to sustain it.

“Especially with the attack that they’ve got, the quality that they have. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

“We got off to a very good start, could have probably managed the game better. But like I said, it was relentless attacks. We could have probably done a little bit more as well in front of goal.”

Kai Havertz speaking to Sky Sports on Rice’s assist for the winning goal: “I think 90 per cent of the goal belongs to that man.

“I think we all know his right foot. And today he was there. Brilliant overlap and perfect cross.

“And for me it was an easy tap-in. And as I said, I think that goal definitely belongs to him.”

On defending Liverpool’s pressure, Havertz said: “As Dec said, we all stick together and defended together. And there were tough moments for sure. But we came over them and I think that’s the most important.”

19:26 CET – A huge win for Arsenal in the title race and their first at Anfield in 14 years! A fascinating contest saw Liverpool on top for much of it, but a defensive masterclass by Mikel Arteta’s dogged Arsenal inspired them to victory.

1-0 to the Arsenal will have rarely sounded so good for their supporters – a victory of champions.

It is no coincidence, after all, that Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in six of their nine games; no team has done this more in the Premier League this season.

And for all their domination, Liverpool didn’t manage a single shot on target, which speaks volumes about a side missing a cutting edge at times.

19:21 CET – Six minutes of added time for Liverpool to find an equaliser. Can they do it, or will Arsenal hold on?

19:16 CET – Into the last five minutes at Anfield and Liverpool are still pushing for an equaliser, but Arsenal have 10 men behind the ball and there is much less space for the hosts.

19:00 CET – Big chance for Arsenal to go 2-0 up and surely out of sight as Christos Tzolis found space on the edge of the box and his low, driven effort forced a brilliant fingertip save from Alisson.

18:52 CET – 15 minutes have gone in the second half and Liverpool are still on top. It feels inevitable they will find an equaliser at some point with Anfield rocking, but and it is a big but: Arsenal are the best in the business at holding onto leads.

18:33 CET – Ready for another 45 minutes of this epic contest? Well, good, because we are back underway at Anfield! Can Liverpool finally get the equaliser they have been threatening, or will Arsenal hold on?

18:18 CET – A breathless first half has come to a close at Anfield and somehow it is still 1-0 to Arsenal at the break. Liverpool have come close through Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz but it is the visitors and Premier League leaders who are ahead.

However, Iraola will be encouraged by his side’s response to falling behind as all the big chances have fallen Liverpool’s way since the early goal.

17:58 CET – Over a quarter of the contest is history and Liverpool are now enjoying a good spell as they hunt an equaliser.

17:47 CET – It had been coming! Arsenal take first blood after capitalising on some loose passing out from the back by Liverpool. It is a brilliant move from Arteta’s side after the initial error from Liverpool, as a teasing ball across goal is tapped in by Kai Havertz. The champions are ahead!

According to Opta, Kai Havertz is now the all-time leading German goalscorer in the Premier League (46 goals), overtaking Ilkay Gundogan (45).

17:45 CET – 15 minutes gone at Anfield and it has been a strong start from Arsenal but Liverpool have looked nervous and haven’t got going yet.

17:32 CET – We are underway at a buzzing Anfield in what promises to be an epic contest between challengers Liverpool and champions Arsenal.

17:25 CET – Both teams have walked out onto the Anfield turf and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is being sung by the Liverpool fans.

This should be box-office!

17:05 CET – As kick-off approaches at Anfield, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has spoken to Sky Sports.

On the magnitude of the game, Iraola said: “A big game. We have a schedule where is not time for a lot, each two or three days you prepare a game quickly and today is a big one definitely. We have to be at our very best but we are coming from three wins from home. We needed these wins and we want to finish with a big win.”

On Trey Nyoni’s first Premier League start: “The thinking is that he is playing very well, we trust him. He has good control on the ball; he understands the game well; without the ball, he is smart to deal with all the complications. He is really good on those things. We have to consider we have very good subs for the second half. It gives us good options, but we definitely trust Trey to do well.”

On Dominik Szoboszlai’s return to the bench: “He was desperate to start. After the Brentford game, we probably went too early. We have been a bit more cautious and he will have to go through the process today he probably plays in the second half.”

16:35 CET – One man who could make all the difference today is Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker has begun to get into his stride after a difficult first season at Liverpool and, crucially for Iraola, he is scoring goals.

Isak has scored in his last two Premier League games and six goals in seven league appearances. If Liverpool are to win this, expect the in-form striker to play a big part in it.

16:16 CET – Team news is in from Anfield! As expected, Arsenal are without Bukayo Saka as Arteta starts Noni Madueke and, surprisingly, Christos Tzolis on the wings and Kai Havertz up top.

As for Liverpool, Iraola has made just one change from the side that beat Brighton last weekend and it is a surprising one! After evidently impressing Iraola in the Carabao Cup midweek, exciting 19-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni starts instead of Ryan Gravenberch.

16:45 CET – Liverpool might just fancy their chances at Anfield due to their imperious home record against the Gunners. 

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 13 league meetings with Arsenal at Anfield and, given their strong form in all competitions, Iraola’s side will fancy their chances of keeping that record going this evening. 

However, Arsenal are the Premier League holders for a reason and despite their midweek setback in the EFL Cup, Arteta’s side are still in very impressive form domestically and in Europe – so they will be no pushovers.

15:30 CET – Welcome to Flashscore’s live coverage of a box-office clash between Liverpool and Arsenal this afternoon!

Arsenal and Liverpool are old rivals, and it is always an important meeting when they go to battle, but this one feels huge.

The Gunners are the Premier League holders and favourites, but a trip to Anfield is rarely an easy assignment, and Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool have just started to find some form after winning their last five games in all competitions. 

Meanwhile, all was rosy at Arsenal before they were stunned by League Two Fleetwood in the EFL Cup midweek, leaving some unpredictability about this fixture.

Kick-off is at 17:30 CET, and we’ll be posting the team news and live updates throughout the match right here.