Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

I am proper nervous for this game, I think because it's a "six pointer" with a title rival.

FIRST HALF

It's a quiet start to the game and slightly nervy, but the crowd are behind us.

On 3 minutes there's some composed play from Salah that seems to calm our passing down and gets us on the attack.

On 4 minutes there's a delay due to an injury to William Saliba, and Anfield is roaring with the sound of "Champions! Champions! Champions!". What a beautiful sound it is.

On 9 minutes it's counter attack versus counter attack and Konate does well under pressure. Hopefully it'll be a better game for him after his struggles in the first two games of the season.

On 11 minutes Konate is strong again. He's looking good.

On 13 minutes Alisson reads the ball well and rescues some poor play with a clearance.

Neither team is turning attack into any meaningful chance in the opening twenty minutes.

On 20 minutes the Diogo Jota song is sang around Anfield, to honour and celebrate our forever number 20. It's a beautiful and moving sound to hear.

On 22 minutes the first meaningful chance of the game falls to Noni Madueke from an Arsenal corner but it's saved by Alisson.

Arsenal start to gain more control and it's reducing us to playing long balls as we can't seem to pass through them.

On 32 minutes Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya passes the ball straight to Virgil Van Dijk, he tries to pass it instead of shooting and it comes to nothing. If only he'd shot straight at goal, there was a big gap between Raya and the post, I think it would have gone in (true Red optimism ha).

Slot's grey jacket

I've noticed it on his chair but he's not wearing it! He's got a dark navy thing on. I do really like this grey jacket so please keep wearing it Arne ha ha

On 35 minutes Kerkez is easily beaten by Madueke again but he gets back to make a good challenge and concede a corner.

On 39 minutes it's an almost unnoticeable block from Konate but it's crucial in preventing a possible goal. The ball goes out for a corner.

On 41 minutes Gabriel should have been booked for that foul on Salah.

Ekitike strength

Ekitike is strong again. He wins a free kick. He's not had any chances yet but he's been noticeably strong when competing for the ball and he's pressing well. His build has been a concern for some but he's showing some real natural strength. I don't think we'll need to worry about him competing physically in the Premier League.

It's a pretty uneventful first half on the whole.

SECOND HALF

On 47 minutes I didn't like the look in the eyes of the linesman down the right wing when Ekitike protests that he should have got a free kick but it was awarded the other way. It should have been a Liverpool free kick from what I saw. That linesman made me feel very uneasy, it was like he had it in for us (we know this happens).

On 53 minutes Madueke is the danger man for Arsenal again and wins another corner.

Konate

Ibrahima Konate is having a very strong game. This is music to our ears after his rocky start to the season. He is all over Arsenal and keeping them out.

On 56 minutes it's an outstanding ball from Van Dijk to Salah, who controls it brilliantly but he can't get a pass away and it comes to nothing.

On 60 minutes it's a disallowed goal due to Ekitike being offside. Wirtz is showing the problems he can cause when playing a more advanced role. He's been playing quite deep today but the past few minutes he's advanced and is causing problems in the final third.

On 61 minutes
Mac Allister off
Jones on

I think Curtis Jones was unlucky not to start today but it's difficult not to pick a fit Mac Allister and it shows our quality and strength in that area.

On 63 minutes it's a huge header from Konate to prevent Calafiori a chance from an Arsenal corner.

On 67 minutes it's Salah with some nice dribbling inside the Arsenal box but it comes to nothing.

The Anfield atmosphere

Often in the past, in these types of games our atmosphere became nervous or on edge. One thing I am noticing this season is the opposite. The crowd is lifting the players in vital moments.

The atmosphere is starting to build as the game looks like it's going nowhere.

On 71 minutes it's an incredible pass from Szoboszlai in the right back position to Wirtz on the left wing, that eventually leads to a corner.

We look far more threatening with Wirtz in the final third.

On 77 minutes there's a delay due to an injury to Konate.

Konate off
Ekitike off
Gomez on
Chiesa on

Good shout to keep Wirtz on for me if he keeps playing more advanced.

On 80 minutes Curtis Jones wins a free-kick around 30 yards out to the centre of the goal. Jones has been solid since coming on.

Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal

OMG!!! Dominik Szoboszlai curls a free-kick from over 30 yards out into the top left corner of the goal!!! It's almost inch perfect!!! How'd he do that??? He's been outstanding again today!!! This is pure brilliance and WORLD CLASS!

On 85 minutes it's chaos in our box but Alisson gathers the ball! Phew! Me nerves!

On 87 minutes it's a superb intervention from Gomez to put it out for a corner.

On 88 minutes Wirtz is injured, hopefully it's just cramp.

Wirtz off
Endo on

We're sitting back in the final minutes . I can't cope.

On 97 minutes we get the ball upfield to Chiesa and the boy does well. He wins a corner. It comes to nothing but hopefully those seconds wasted will get us over the line.

FULL TIME
LIVERPOOL 1-0 ARSENAL

This was a game that was going nowhere. Konate was outstanding for me. Szoboszlai too. I'm not doing player ratings as we had so many good moments that were not exciting but crucial.

I think Ekitike is proving he has great natural strength. Wirtz is taking time to adjust to the intensity of the Premier League but he's going to be exciting in the final third. He will get better.

It was a bit of a lacklustre game that was lit up by one of the best Premier League goals I have seen in a long time and if anyone deserves it on our recent performances it was the man who scored it, Dominik Szoboszlai.

He's been outstanding in our opening games this season. He said after the match he was sad that he couldn't take free-kicks in previous seasons as he wasn't first choice. I can say that I'm thoroughly excited that this guy will be taking a lot more free-kicks for us this season.

I also want to comment on Arne Slot's substitutions. He's got them near enough spot on so far this season and I think he did again today. Gomez made a very important challenge and Chiesa won us a crucial corner at the end with his endless energy and enthusiasm.

This was a huge "six pointer" given the talent Arsenal have and the fact that they're one of, if not our main challengers for the title this season.

Our defence was much improved today, our attack wasn't so good.

That's where a moment of magic is required.

Step forward Dominik Szoboszlai.