Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal: What went wrong for Andoni Iraola's Reds as Mikel Arteta's Gunners claim Anfield Premier League win

Liverpool were downed 1-0 by Arsenal successful a tense showdown astatine Anfield connected Sunday, with the Gunners claiming a archetypal Premier League triumph astatine the iconic crushed successful 14 years.

Andoni Iraola's broadside were arguably the amended squad connected the day, but they proved incapable to manner overmuch successful the mode of clear-cut chances, owing to struggles successful buildup and the visitors' highly antiaircraft playstyle.

The Merseysiders were unfortunate to not beryllium awarded a punishment successful the archetypal half, erstwhile Alexander Isak was pulled backmost by Jurrien Timber, and it has been said that Liverpool were punished for being 'too honest' astatine the weekend.

Another decisive origin successful the decision was the mode successful which the Reds mislaid their momentum and grip connected the contention pursuing the instauration of Dominik Szoboszlai successful the 2nd half.

Here, Sports Mole takes a person look astatine what went incorrect for Iraola during Liverpool's nonaccomplishment to Arsenal connected Sunday.

Liverpool continued to conflict successful buildup against Arsenal

It is nary concealed that Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure to Real Madrid successful the summertime of 2025 was a large stroke for Liverpool, and his lack is inactive keenly felt connected Merseyside.

The right-back was cardinal to the Reds' buildup from heavy areas nether Jurgen Klopp and during the title-winning 2024-25 run with Arne Slot astatine the helm, but the nine are yet to motion a susceptible replacement.

Ronald Araujo has been exceptional connected the close of Iraola's defence successful the aboriginal stages of this term, though the Uruguayan is by nary means a beardown passer oregon progressor of the ball, considering that helium is simply a earthy centre-back.

On the other flank, left-back Milos Kerkez has been susceptible erstwhile defending but lacklustre going guardant - the inverse of fans' concerns erstwhile helium arrived astatine Anfield from Bournemouth.

Thanks to a deficiency of attacking power from their full-backs, Liverpool person struggled to determination the shot from heavy areas astatine gait oregon with fluidity, a weakness successful the squad that has encouraged absorption presses.

On Sunday, the Reds conceded the decisive extremity aft a misplaced walk from Alisson portion playing retired from the back, and saw a fig of counter-attacking opportunities interruption down erstwhile centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet were not disposable to initiate them.

For reference, Araujo completed 1 walk into the last 3rd and Kerkez three, portion Jacquet made six and Van Dijk nine, highlighting conscionable however small interaction Iraola's wide defenders are having connected the attack.

Arsenal person mastered the 'dark arts', Liverpool are 'too honest'

Arsenal are recognised passim the Premier League arsenic a squad that play to the margins of the rules, portion Liverpool were connected the receiving extremity of a fig of arguable decisions connected Sunday.

The astir notable incidental occurred portion mode done the archetypal half, erstwhile Isak came adjacent to heading a Bradley Barcola transverse goalwards, lone for Timber to intelligibly propulsion the striker's jersey and impede his question towards the ball.

Neither referee Andy Madley nor VAR intervened connected that occasion, supposedly missing the propulsion entirely, with commentators and pundits alike putting blasted connected Isak for not throwing himself to the crushed for attraction arsenic Arsenal stars specified arsenic Gabriel had done to large effect astatine Anfield.

After the loss, Iraola was asked whether it was indispensable to instruct players to spell to ground, with the manager saying, "It's a shame you inquire maine this question. But honestly, yes, we person to archer them to spell down due to the fact that they are not going to telephone it otherwise."

Liverpool skipper Van Dijk was besides frustrated with the nonaccomplishment to spot the pull, telling the media, "We person 50 cameras. Why does [Isak] person to kick erstwhile determination are truthful galore cameras? Everyone has seen it. In the extremity it wasn't fixed and we suffer the crippled unfortunately, truthful good done to Arsenal."

The different flashpoint successful the lucifer was the head-to-head betwixt Noni Madueke and Alexis Mac Allister, during which the Argentine midfielder made definite to excessively exaggerate his absorption to the Arsenal winger's aggression.

VAR decided that Madueke's caput question did not conscionable the standards for convulsive conduct, but it came arsenic a astonishment that helium avoided a yellowish card, especially considering that the Englishman had already been booked earlier successful the fractional for stopping a counter.

Back successful April this year, Gabriel appeared to headbutt Manchester City's Erling Haaland, but erstwhile the striker failed to dive, the Gunners defender escaped a reddish paper and some players were shown a yellowish for displaying assertive behaviour.

The inconsistency successful punishment betwixt incidents of a akin quality is frustrating for everyone invested successful the game, though determination does look to beryllium a 'correct' magnitude of exaggeration that volition pull a referee's attraction without arousing suspicion, and Arsenal person mastered the creation of it.

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch problem

Iraola's broadside person been without Dominik Szoboszlai for 5 of the past six games owed to the insignificant hamstring contented that forced him to beryllium withdrawn against Brentford connected October 17.

The fig 8 came disconnected the seat connected Sunday with the Reds searching for a goal, but the squad appeared to suffer fluency successful midfield pursuing his introduction.

Nineteen-year-old Trey Nyoni, who Szoboszlai replaced, had kept Liverpool connected the beforehand ft by completing 78% of his a progressive passes, 67% of his agelong passes and 96% of his passes overall.

By contrast, the Hungary skipper proved wasteful successful possession erstwhile again, with conscionable 30% of his progressive passes reaching their destination, arsenic good arsenic 29% of his agelong balls and 82% of his passes arsenic a whole.

Szoboszlai is not a earthy acceptable successful a deeper midfield role, and helium lacks the adjacent power oregon consistency to diagnostic successful the fig 10 position, though his unsocial moving powerfulness makes it hard for Iraola to permission him retired of the XI.

Similarly, Ryan Gravenberch seems to person been displaced successful the pecking bid by Nyoni, fixed the former Bayern Munich and Ajax prima did not spot a azygous infinitesimal against Arsenal and has present started conscionable 4 of the Reds' 9 Premier League games this term.

The Dutchman is often seen arsenic an important subordinate for Liverpool by galore owed to the information helium claimed the Young Player of the Season grant successful 2024-25, but the world is that helium has struggled beyond the archetypal months of Slot's tenure.

Gravenberch besides failed to found himself during Klopp's last run astatine the club, and the 24-year-old faces an uncertain aboriginal astatine Anfield, contempt the six-year declaration helium penned successful March this twelvemonth that whitethorn go thing of an albatross for the Reds.