Arsenal claimed their first win away to Liverpool since 2012, with Kai Havertz's strike proving the difference as the Gunners celebrated going top of the Premier League table after Manchester City's defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta was in the team when Arsenal last won at Anfield, and his decision to recall Havertz to the starting lineup paid off when the German was left in acres of space to tap home following Declan Rice’s superb run and delivery.

They just about got to half-time, having survived an onslaught of Liverpool pressure, and those attacks continued in the second half. But some resolute defending combined with wasteful end product allowed the visitors to see out an impressive victory.

Here, Express Sport rates how the Arsenal players fared against Liverpool…

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6

Wayward with his distribution but was not seriously troubled despite wave after wave of Liverpool pressure.

Defence

Jurrien Timber - 7

Fortunate not to give away a penalty in the first half for a shirt pull on Isak, but defended well throughout.

Ezri Konsa - 5

Made a mess of his touch and had to be bailed out by Rice shortly after Arsenal took the lead. Will be relieved the referee agreed that Konsa was fouled by Isak inside the Arsenal box as he grabbed the ball before the whistle blew.

Gabriel - 7

Started the match by falling to the floor, holding his face despite Alexander Isak colliding with his chest.

Was prevented from getting into his favoured attacking areas, but did well to close Cody Gakpo down and then Rio Ngumoha on his wing.

Midfield

Declan Rice - 9

Often dropped between the centre-backs to dictate play but made a vital move forward to overlap Madueke and send a perfect low cross to the back post to tap home. Moments later, he stepped in to the relief of Ezri Konsa and intercepted when Bradley Barcola was closing in on goal, after the defender’s mistake in his own penalty area. The England international was everywhere and the heartbeat of his team.

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Bruno Guimaraes - 7

Made a crucial intervention to deny Barcola inside the Arsenal box and celebrated as if he scored a goal.

Martin Odegaard - 5

Needed to set the tempo as Arsenal's captain and creator-in-chief, but failed to get a stranglehold on proceedings.

Attack

Noni Madueke - 6

Composed in possession but struggled to get into positions to seriously hurt Liverpool. That composure went out the window when he risked a red card by moving his head to that of Alexis Mac Allister's in a second-half bust-up, which saw the Argentine fall to the floor rather theatrically.

Was a nuisance to both Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet before picking the perfect position to open the scoring when Ronald Araujo fell asleep at the back post.

Christos Tzolis - 5

Thrown straight back in from the start after missing the past six games with a hamstring injury, but was largely anonymous aside from a curling effort that was superbly saved by Alisson.

Substitutes

Myles Lewis-Skelly (62') - 6

Brought on to try and help Arsenal retain some possession and helped to see out a vital three points.

Piero Hincapie (84') - N/A

Viktor Gyokeres (84') - N/A

Mikel Merino (88') - N/A

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