Liverpool sink Arsenal with Szoboszlai’s thunderbolt at Anfield

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Liverpool edged Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday, thanks to a spectacular late free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai that reignited the home crowd and proved decisive in a tightly contested Premier League clash.

The match was fiercely competitive from the opening whistle, with Arsenal showing early intent.

In the 10th minute, Mikel Merino delivered a teasing cross into the box, only for Liverpool’s defence to scramble it away.

Noni Madueke twice came close for the visitors, first testing the defence on a direct run in the 22nd minute before seeing a powerful effort blocked inside the box midway through the half.

Arsenal continued to press, and Riccardo Calafiori nearly broke the deadlock on 40 minutes when his strike seemed destined for the net, only to be cleared off the line by a desperate Liverpool defender.

Liverpool responded after the interval. Florian Wirtz found himself in space in the 61st minute and forced a superb save from Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, before the Reds briefly thought they had gone ahead, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

The breakthrough finally came in the 83rd minute. Awarded a free-kick from distance, Szoboszlai stepped up with confidence and unleashed a thunderous strike that bent past Raya, cannoned off the left post, and nestled into the net. Anfield erupted as Liverpool took a crucial lead.

Arsenal pushed for a late equaliser, with Eberechi Eze appealing for a penalty after a challenge inside the area in the 86th minute, but the referee waved play on, much to the frustration of the visitors.

Despite Arsenal’s late pressure, Liverpool held firm to claim all three points, in a result that could prove vital in the title race.