Arsenal beats Liverpool 1-0 to end Anfield torment and go top of the Premier League

Arsenal eked out its first win at Anfield in 14 years by beating Liverpool 1-0 through Kai Havertz’s first-half goal to climb to first place in the Premier League on Sunday.

Not since 2012 — when current manager Mikel Arteta was commanding the team’s midfield — had Arsenal won at Liverpool’s intimidating home ground.

The curse was broken by Havertz, who slotted home a close-range finish at the back post after a low center across the face of goal by all-action midfielder Declan Rice in the 16th minute.

Arsenal then defended doggedly, especially in the first half when the visitors were pinned back by Liverpool, to keep its sixth clean sheet in nine games of a title defense that is going according to plan.

“In the end, that defensive line, the way we stick together, that togetherness we have, is undefeated,” Rice said. "It’s nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

With this eighth victory of the campaign, the Gunners leapfrogged Manchester City into top spot and holds a three-point lead.

Perhaps more presciently, given the uncertainty surrounding City’s future following its guilty verdict for large-scale financial rule-breaking, Arsenal is now five points ahead of third-place Brighton – the only team to defeat the defending champions so far.

The loss breaks a run of five straight wins by Liverpool since its only previous defeat this season — by Man City, also at Anfield on Oct. 11.

During the furious onslaught in the final 25 minutes of the first half, Florian Wirtz struck the crossbar with a free kick, Alexis Mac Allister headed over the bar when unmarked and Liverpool had a number of penalty appeals waved away.

Ultimately, though, the hosts didn't have a shot on target all match and stayed in fifth place, already nine points behind Arsenal.

“Some days it feels like we are at the top,” said Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, “and some days it feels like we are not even close. It takes time to get to the top.”

The only goal was avoidable on Liverpool's part.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker attempted a short pass out from the back at a goal kick but it got intercepted by Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, setting up a counterattack.

The ball was fed to the right, where Rice — on the overlap — threaded a cross between Alisson and Liverpool's defenders, teeing up Havertz for an easy finish to become the all-time leading German scorer in the Premier League. He has 46 goals, one more than former Man City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

Alisson might have produced a world-class save late on to tip aside a curling shot by Christos Tzolis but it is his early error that will be remembered.

In the space of five days, Arsenal has been eliminated by fourth-tier opposition in the English League Cup and won at arguably the toughest ground to visit in England.

Getting beaten by plucky Fleetwood Town in a penalty shootout was one of the Gunners' most embarrassing results in their history, even if it was a largely second-string team deployed by Arteta on Tuesday.

He restored all of his regulars to the lineup on Sunday and they toughed out a huge win in the hardest examination so far in their title defense.

“This is the magical thing about football,” Arteta said. “It's so unpredictable, the next result.”

Arsenal will gain confidence from this and from the sight of Man City losing back-to-back games in the league, against Aston Villa last weekend and Brighton on Saturday.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, bottom, challenges for the ball with Arsenal's Noni Madueke, left, during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gives instructions from the side line during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya, left, and Arsenal's Kai Havertz in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Arsenal's Kai Havertz, left, challenges for the ball with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Arsenal's Kai Havertz, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels threw for 217 yards and a touchdown, and the Washington Commanders shut out the Philadelphia Eagles over the final three quarters of a 27-10 victory on Sunday night.

Washington (2-4-1) picked up its first win in more than a month while sending Philadelphia (2-6) to its sixth straight loss, and Daniels won as a starter for the first time since beating the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 5, 2025.

The Commanders sacked Tanner McKee five times and intercepted him once while holding the Eagles to 268 yards — just 199 before the meaningless final drive.

In his third start of the season in place of the injured Jalen Hurts, McKee threw for 212 yards without a touchdown.

Saquon Barkley rushed for a touchdown for the Eagles but was held to 30 yards on 13 carries. Philadelphia finished with 91 yards rushing.

Both teams committed costly penalties. The Eagles' Jake Elliott made a field goal to cut Washington's lead to three points in the fourth quarter, but he had to try again because of an illegal formation penalty and missed from 41 yards.

Drew Stevens kicked four field goals for Washington, including a 56-yarder late in the first quarter. Daniels connected with Stefon Diggs for an 8-yard touchdown in the second quarter that tied it at 10-all, and Washington led 13-10 at halftime.

The Commanders had a sloppy first few drives. Stevens missed his first field goal attempt, from 55 yards, and Chig Okonkwo lost a fumble.

Barkley's 3-yard touchdown run put Philadelphia ahead 10-0 in the first quarter.

On Washington's final drive of the first half, Daniels took a hard hit and was slow to get to his feet, but he stayed in the game as the Commanders finished with 27 unanswered points.

The Commanders remain in the hunt in a weak NFC East, two games behind the first-place New York Giants, despite opening the season with just one win in their first six games.

Eagles: Safety Michael Carter suffered an abdominal injury.

Commanders: Running back Jeremy McNichols limped to the locker room in the second half with a left foot injury.

Eagles: Host the Giants next Sunday.

Commanders: Host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) scores a touchdown ahead of Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) catches a touchdown pass ahead of Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kenny Moore (23) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders defensive end Charles Omenihu (90) chases after a fumble with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (16) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) intercepts a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper (80) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3) celebrates with quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) after they teamed up on a touchdown pass play against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)