Kai Havertz put Arsenal on course for a first win over Liverpool at Anfield since 2012 as he finished off a superb team move to give them a first-half lead.

Arsenal headed to Merseyside knowing even a draw would seem them go top of the Premier League following Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

The Gunners dictated the opening stages and in the 16th minute they found the breakthrough.

Martin Odegaard’s press saw Arsenal win the ball high up the pitch before Bruno Guimaraes sprayed the ball wide to Noni Madueke wide on the right.

Madueke found the overlapping Declan Rice, whose low delivery was superb and laid the ball on a plate for Havertz to turn home at the far post.

Arsenal came under sustained pressure thereafter as Liverpool sought a response in what became an increasingly chaotic first half.

Alexander Isak drilled an effort narrowly wide and Florian Wirtz struck the crossbar with a free-kick, but Alexis Mac Allister spurned the best Liverpool chance of the half as he headed over unmarked from Milos Kerkez’s cross, his profligacy allowing Arsenal to reach the interval with their slender lead still intact.