Liverpool’s Szoboszlai downs Arsenal while Man City stumble again

Holders Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0 in English football’s Premier League, while fallen favourites Man City lose 2-1 at Brighton.

Published On 31 Aug 2025

Dominik Szoboszlai curled home a brilliant long-range free kick to earn Liverpool a 1-0 win over Arsenal in an early-season meeting between two of the likely Premier League title contenders.

Manchester City was also expected to be challenging for the championship this season, but collapsing to a 2-1 loss at Brighton – for a second straight loss – was another sign that Pep Guardiola’s team has lost its aura of dominance.

Little separated Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield before Szoboszlai stepped up to an 83rd-minute free kick and whipped it into the top corner from about 30 yards.

“I thought I would take a risk,” Szoboszlai told Sky Sports. “I was confident, so I tried it and finally! It’s a long time when you practice all the time and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] was taking the free kicks, but finally I could have my chance, and I did it.

“This [type of] shot I didn’t practice in the last few weeks as we were shooting from closer, but I had to take a risk and shoot it a little bit harder.”

Filling in at full back in an emergency, the Hungary captain – typically an attacking midfielder – did his best impression of now-departed right back Alexander-Arnold with a top-quality strike that was out of keeping with the rest of the game.

It’s now three straight wins to open the season for Liverpool, the defending champion.

For Arsenal, it was a first loss and first goal conceded – extending its winless record at Anfield dating back to 2012.

“Arsenal had an unbelievable season last season and three times in a row coming second,” Szoboszlai added.

“To be honest, it’s a compliment always to keep on going with City, with Chelsea with us – it is always really hard. They have an unbelievable team and an unbelievable coach.”