Alisson Becker attracted the limelight for the wrong reasons as Arsenal took first blood in their afternoon visit to Anfield on Sunday.
Kai Havertz put Mikel Arteta’s Gunners in front, capitalising on a low fizzed ball across the box from Declan Rice.
Liverpool’s tricky start of Alisson’s making
While we disagree with the language used in @postanythingLFC’s post on X (formerly Twitter), we can’t deny that it is a pretty disastrous error.
The Liverpool goalkeeper, under pressure, plays a pass into empty space that Jeremy Jacquet is simply miles away from and can’t hope to reach.
Arsenal lap up the counter-attacking opportunity and go on to find an early opener; a gift of an opener, it has to be said.
“A disaster for Liverpool and a disaster from Alisson. He makes an awful mistake as he tries to play the ball out. It entices Arsenal and allows them to jump on Liverpool,” Stephen Warnock spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live (via BBC Sport).
“There is still a lot to do from then. They work it on the right side and it’s a simplest of tap ins from Havertz.”
Alisson what a drunkard. pic.twitter.com/jsqTyaP7U6 https://t.co/lbJ59H9Mqa
— Ipostanything LFC (@postanythingLFC) November 1, 2026
"Absolutely brilliant from Arsenal."
Kai Havertz gives Arsenal an early lead at Anfield! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/eeyhRcLlel
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 1, 2026
Liverpool have an uphill battle but plenty of time to get back in the game
To give credit where credit is due, the response from Liverpool has been pretty emphatic, and it’s a testament to how the team mentality seems to have changed for the better under Andoni Iraola’s guidance. No dropped heads, no shoulders sagging.
The Merseysiders have registered less notable goal threat as far as the xG numbers (0.34 to Arsenal’s 0.74) are concerned (at the time of writing). Though it’s worth noting the hosts (15) have registered more touches in the opposition box compared to the opponents (11) after the half-hour mark.
Liverpool have a way back into this provided they can steer clear of another costly and entirely avoidable error.
