Ian Doyle with the talking points from Liverpool's Premier League clash at home to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon

There can’t be many players who have had to wait as long as Trey Nyoni for their first league start since breaking into the Liverpool senior side.

Opportunity, though, finally knocked for the teenager, who on his 31st outing for the Reds was given the nod ahead of both Ryan Gravenberch and the returning Dominik Szoboszlai alongside Alexis Mac Allister in the heart of the Reds’ engine room.

Any doubts over Nyoni being unable to mix it with the physical likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Declan Rice were soon banished with the youngster fortunate to escape not even a booking after two meaty fouls in the opening moments.

The 19-year-old then cracked on with a composed display amid the maelstrom of a hectic encounter that justified the faith of Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.

OPINION

Nobody had more touches than Nyoni during his time on the pitch with the midfielder possessing a pass accuracy in excess of 96%. He did not look out of place.

Having never before before started two games inside a week, it wasn’t a surprise to see Nyoni make way for Szoboszlai on the hour, and the Reds weren't quite the same after his departure. This was another step forward in a promising Anfield career.

Mac Allister sets example

Another Anfield Premier League game, another Liverpool failure to win. It’s now just five victories in 15 home top-flight matches this calendar year following this latest surrender, this season alone suffering defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal and draws against Nottingham Forest and Fulham.

But there’s little doubt the fight has returned to this Reds team with Alexis Mac Allister at the forefront.

The Argentina international was once again Liverpool’s best player, even if he was also guilty of wasteful finishing when heading over a Milos Kerkez cross towards the end of the first half.

Mac Allister, though, was at the heart of the scrap, constantly nicking the ball in good positions and helping maintain the pressure on the Arsenal rearguard.

And the midfielder wasn’t averse to giving Arsenal a taste of their own medicine, particularly when, having fouled Martin Odegaard, he gave the Norwegian a piece of his mind before moments later sparking a furore in which Noni Madueke was somewhat fortunate to escape a red card when his head appeared to connect with Mac Allister.

Liverpool need a bit more of that devilment. Clearly, this isn’t a Premier League that rewards teams for being nice.

Alisson alarm increases

It’s not as though Alisson Becker can say he hadn’t been warned. Only last week, the Liverpool goalkeeper played a careless pass into midfield only for Brighton to eventually hit the post as the home team scrambled to regroup.

This time Alisson wasn’t so lucky, his ball intended for Jeremy Jacquet instead gifting possession to Arsenal for a move that ended with Kai Havertz tapping in Declan Rice’s cross at the far post.

A low-quality game of few chances meant a mistake was always likely to be the difference. And the more the Reds floundered up against Arsenal’s blanket defence, the more it became apparent Alisson’s indiscretion would prove decisive.

True, the keeper made a smart stop to keep out a low Christos Tszolis drive as the Gunners looked to make the game safe on the counter-attack during the final quarter.

Alisson has more than enough credit in the bank having been the undisputed number one goalkeeper at Anfield for more than eight years. Indeed, not even Giorgi Mamardashvili’s solid showing in the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea in midweek will be enough to dislodge the Brazilian - in the last year of his contract, don’t forget - any time soon.

But this was an untimely reminder even the very best are not immune from needless blunders.