Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal: Five Things We Learned As Reds Fall Short At Anfield

The Reds matched the champions for large periods, yet a lack of cutting edge in the final third ultimately proved costly.

From concerns over Liverpool's star-studded attack to Trey Nyoni's encouraging display and the growing gap at the top of the table, here are five things we learned from the clash at Anfield.

Liverpool's attacking talent is undeniable, but the defeat highlighted that the Reds are still waiting for their new-look forward line to truly click into gear.

Credit should go to Arsenal, whose defensive display was organised, disciplined and relentless from the opening whistle. After taking the lead in the 16th minute, Mikel Arteta's side defended their advantage superbly and gave Liverpool very little room to operate in dangerous areas.

Even so, Liverpool had more than enough quality on the pitch to test the visitors. Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo have the ability to unlock any defence on their day, yet Arsenal succeeded in keeping all four unusually quiet.

The statistic that sums up the afternoon best is that Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target at Anfield in a Premier League match for the first time ever. For a side boasting so much attacking firepower, that is a remarkable return.

Isak, Barcola and Wirtz alone cost Liverpool around £364 million, while Gakpo was the subject of an £85 million bid during the summer transfer window. Combined, that is roughly £449 million worth of attacking talent, yet none of them managed to test Arsenal's goalkeeper.

It would be premature to sound the alarm, as there have already been glimpses of what this forward line can become under Andoni Iraola. However, Liverpool only needed one of their star attackers to produce a decisive moment and it never arrived. Until this front four begins to develop greater chemistry and consistency, questions will remain over whether the Reds are getting the best from their considerable attacking investment.

One of the main differences between the two sides at Anfield was their ability to manage the game's finer details.

To be clear, this is not about Liverpool players throwing themselves to the floor every time there is contact like Gabriel. However, Arsenal are arguably the most streetwise team in the Premier League. Whether it is winning fouls, slowing the tempo, appealing decisions or constantly making the referee aware of incidents, Mikel Arteta's side know exactly how to influence a game when the margins are tight.

A good example came with the shirt pull on Alexander Isak inside the penalty area. Liverpool supporters will rightly feel the Reds should have been awarded a penalty regardless, but it was also a situation where the striker could perhaps have made the infringement more obvious. Isak is an honest, down-to-earth footballer who always looks to stay on his feet, but had the roles been reversed, it is easy to imagine an Arsenal player going down and ensuring the referee was forced into making a decision.

The contrast was noticeable throughout the afternoon. Arsenal players were constantly around the referee, appealing decisions and making their voices heard. Liverpool, meanwhile, were far less vocal and rarely appeared to put officials under any sustained pressure.

It is one area where the Reds perhaps miss the personalities of players such as Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Jamie Carragher. All three understood the importance of the psychological side of the game and were never afraid to spend 90 minutes in the referee's ear if it helped their team gain an edge.

Nobody is suggesting Liverpool need to master the dark arts, but Arsenal showed just how important being streetwise can be. In tight matches between top sides, those small details can often make a big difference.

Trey Nyoni was handed his first full Premier League start against Arsenal and, despite a nervy opening, produced another encouraging display in a Liverpool shirt.

The 19-year-old's first 10 minutes were shaky. He committed a couple of fouls that could easily have resulted in an early yellow card, and there was a danger that it could have affected the rest of his afternoon. Instead, Nyoni responded exactly how Liverpool supporters would have hoped.

Rather than going into his shell, he settled into the game and began to show why he is so highly rated at Anfield. His composure on the ball stood out, while he also demonstrated impressive defensive awareness and maturity for a player making his first Premier League start.

As the game progressed, Nyoni became an important part of Liverpool's midfield and helped the Reds maintain control for long periods. In many ways, his performance was made even more impressive by the fact that he recovered so well from that difficult start.

Liverpool actually looked worse after he was substituted. Dominik Szoboszlai is an outstanding player, but the Reds seemed to lose some of their control in midfield once Nyoni departed. Arsenal found it easier to manage the game and Liverpool struggled to establish the same rhythm they had earlier in the contest.

The decision to take him off was understandable. At just 19, Nyoni appeared to be feeling the physical demands of the match and a full 90 minutes may have been a step too far. However, if possible, I would have kept him on for as long as he could manage before introducing Ryan Gravenberch in his place. If Liverpool were still trailing later in the game, Szoboszlai could then have been brought on for Araujo at right-back.

Regardless of the tactical debate, this felt like another major step forward in Nyoni's development. After overcoming an uncertain opening spell, he showed maturity beyond his years and looked like a player capable of playing a much bigger role this season.

There is now a nine-point gap between Liverpool and Arsenal. While it is still only November and there is a long way to go, that margin already feels significant.

Coming into the season, few supporters realistically expected Liverpool to mount a title challenge. After a disappointing campaign last year and with Andoni Iraola taking charge for his first season at Anfield, the focus was always likely to be on progress rather than immediate silverware.

That is what makes this result feel so frustrating.

Had Liverpool found a way to beat Arsenal, the gap would have been cut to just three points and the conversation around the top of the table would look very different. Instead, the Reds now find themselves nine points behind one of their direct rivals after falling short in an important home fixture.

Of course, there is still plenty of football to be played and it would be premature to write Liverpool off. Iraola is still building his side and there have been enough positive signs this season to suggest the club is moving in the right direction.

Liverpool are still a difficult team to judge. The Reds have shown they can compete this season, picking up impressive victories against the likes of Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford, but the defeat felt like a reminder of where this project currently stands.

In many ways, this was a case of a team on their way against a team that is already there. Arsenal are the reigning champions and have spent the last few seasons building an experienced, mature side capable of winning tight matches. Liverpool are still in the early stages of a new era under Andoni Iraola.

The first half offered plenty of encouragement. While Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut chances, they controlled large spells of the game and matched Arsenal in many areas. There was little between the sides despite the visitors holding the advantage on the scoreboard.

It's also important not to lose sight of how much progress has been made in a relatively short space of time. This time last year, Liverpool had already suffered defeats against Crystal Palace twice, Manchester United, Galatasaray, Chelsea and Brentford during a hugely disappointing campaign.

The standards are clearly much higher now. Iraola has brought structure, identity and belief back to the side, and while there is still work to do, Liverpool look far more competitive than they did 12 months ago.

Defeats always hurt, especially at Anfield, but there were enough positive signs on display to suggest the Reds are moving in the right direction. Liverpool may not be the finished article just yet, but Iraola is building something supporters can get behind.