Szoboszlai's 30-yard masterpiece settles a nervy Anfield chess match

Dominik Szoboszlai’s sensational 83rd‑minute free-kick from fully 30 yards gave Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Arsenal at Anfield, settling a tense, high‑level meeting between the Premier League’s early pacesetters. The Hungarian’s strike, all dip and fade, flew inside David Raya’s right-hand post and turned a stalemate into a statement, sending the reigning champions to the summit.

For long spells pragmatism held sway: both teams respected the jeopardy of being the first to blink in a game that promised more noise than chances. Arsenal shaded the first half despite losing William Saliba to injury after five minutes, with summer signing Cristhian Mosquera drafted in and £60m recruit Eberechi Eze held back until late. After the break, with Liverpool attacking the Kop, the tide shifted. Half‑chances and fine margins came and went—until Szoboszlai’s right foot settled everything.

Pragmatism, press, and a first-half on a tightrope

Mikel Arteta leaned into solidity and control. He started Mikel Merino in the No 10 role with Martin Ødegaard not fully fit and saw Martín Zubimendi influence the ball circulation as Arsenal dared to play out from the back. It was tense—hearts thumped whenever the patterns were pressed—but it underlined the personality Arteta demanded. In this measured opening, Arsenal shaded the territory without creating much.

Noni Madueke targeted Milos Kerkez and twice threatened to burst clear, only for last‑ditch interventions to deny him. The winger also forced the first serious save of the half from Alisson after a corner broke his way. Liverpool’s clearest moment came on 34 minutes when Raya erred and Virgil van Dijk out‑muscled Zubimendi, only to look for Mohamed Salah with a pass that was not on. Creativity was rationed; caution ruled.

Liverpool’s response and the moments that almost swung it

Arne Slot’s side returned with higher starting positions and bolder pressure, anchored by Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch at the base. The Kop demanded more and the momentum obliged. Ibrahima Konaté bullied Viktor Gyökeres in their duel, yielding little more than bruises for the Arsenal striker. The champions’ superiority grew in increments rather than surges.

The game flirted with chaos only in flashes. Mac Allister drilled into Florian Wirtz, whose low shot was too hot for Raya; as Cody Gakpo followed in, the goalkeeper cleaned him out—an obvious penalty in isolation—but Gakpo was offside. The ball deflected in off Mosquera yet still would not count. Earlier, Hugo Ekitike had bundled home in front of the Kop only to be flagged offside. Declan Rice threw himself in front of a Salah drive, Wirtz later departed injured, and Konaté limped off near the end. It felt like one moment—either an error or genius—would decide it.

The strike: technique, audacity and timing

It arrived seven minutes from time. From 30 yards, Szoboszlai’s technique summoned vicious dip and late fade, the precision planting the ball perfectly inside Raya’s right upright. The Arsenal goalkeeper could only clutch at air. In a contest that had denied invention, the Hungarian conjured it, and the Kop erupted.

The irony was rich: Szoboszlai had spent the afternoon out of position at right-back in place of the injured Jeremie Frimpong, diligently extinguishing Gabriel Martinelli’s threat before deciding the match at the other end. Even Arteta would later reflect that, in a game of tiny margins, it was a magic moment rather than an error that made the difference.

What it means at the summit

Thanks to Manchester City’s loss at Brighton earlier, Liverpool now enjoy a sliver of daylight and, as the only team with a perfect record, move ahead at the top—overtaking Chelsea in the early table picture. It felt like a declaration of intent, amplified by the knowledge that Arne Slot’s champions have yet to find last season’s full fluency.

For Arsenal, Anfield remains unforgiving: they are winless in 13 Premier League visits since 2012. This was their first defeat of the season and a first loss against the ‘big six’ in 23 matches. Eze’s debut cameo offered hints of invention to come, but ruthlessness in key moments proved elusive. Next, Liverpool visit Burnley (14 September) before hosting Atlético Madrid in the Champions League (17 September), while Arsenal face Nottingham Forest at the Emirates (13 September) and open Europe away to Athletic Bilbao (16 September). Transfer‑window noise persists too: Liverpool’s pursuit of Marc Guéhi and the ongoing Alexander Isak saga could yet add heft before the deadline.