Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday 1 November 2026 pits the Premier League’s tightest defence against a ground where Arsenal have not won in the league since 2012-13. Liverpool, six points behind Arsenal, can cut the gap to three when the sides meet in Matchweek 9 at 4:30pm GMT (11:30am ET).
Something has to give. Liverpool’s best route through that defence is Alexander Isak, who has scored six goals in his last six league matches, according to Liverpool FC.
The table before kick-off
As of 25 October, after eight matches each, Arsenal sit level on points with Manchester City and second only on goal difference. Liverpool are fourth.
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 8 | 21 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 8 | 21 |
| 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 8 | 16 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 8 | 15 |
The arithmetic is simple. A Liverpool win cuts the gap to three points, a draw keeps Arsenal’s six-point cushion intact, and a defeat would leave Liverpool nine points behind before the season is a quarter old.
Why Arsenal are so hard to score against
Liverpool FC’s own stats preview shows how complete Arsenal’s defensive record is across the first eight league games.
- Five clean sheets, joint-most in the league.
- Expected goals against of 6.2, the lowest.
The Premier League’s Matchweek 9 preview adds that Arsenal have conceded five league goals, the fewest in the division.
On the numbers shown, a side with the lowest expected goals against rarely gives away clean looks, so Liverpool must turn half-chances into goals. That puts a premium on finishing.
The Anfield problem
Arsenal have not won in their last 13 league visits to Anfield. Their last win there was 2-0 in 2012-13.
What Liverpool offer in attack
Isak plays in a front four with Barcola, Wirtz and Gakpo, per premierleague.com. Against a defence that concedes so little, that group has to be sharp in the moments it gets, and Isak’s recent finishing is the best evidence Liverpool have that it can be.
What the managers and pundits say
Andoni Iraola, the Liverpool head coach, kept his pre-match message measured. “We know Arsenal, we know how good they are, very good players,” he said on 30 October, adding that “they are the actual champions and they are top of the league right now.” He also said: “I think it’s still very early in the season.”
Asked about his record against Arsenal with Bournemouth, Iraola said the results had been good but that “this doesn’t mean a lot, honestly.” He said Arsenal are a different team and that Liverpool need different tools.
Sky Sports columnist Paul Merson put the stakes in blunt terms: “If Liverpool want a title race, they have to beat Arsenal.” Iraola frames the match as a problem to solve over a long season, while Merson treats it as a threshold.
What to watch
- Whether Liverpool find a way to create clear chances against a defence that has conceded few of them.
- Whether Isak keeps scoring in the league.
- Whether Arsenal can end an Anfield league drought stretching back to 2012-13.
What’s next
Liverpool v Arsenal kicks off at Anfield on Sunday 1 November 2026 at 4:30pm GMT (11:30am ET). See more in the Premier League coverage.
Sources
- Liverpool FC: stats to know before Liverpool v Arsenal
- Liverpool FC: Andoni Iraola press conference
- Premier League: Ten key questions for Matchweek 9
- Sky Sports: Paul Merson on Liverpool v Arsenal
- Sky Sports: Premier League table
- ESPN: Premier League standings
- ESPN: Arsenal results
Photo credits: File photo: FYI2023 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (source)
