Declan Rice delivered a man-of-the-match display as Arsenal edged out Liverpool in a tense Premier League encounter, with Kai Havertz's solitary goal proving the difference between the two sides.

Alisson's error opens the door

The game's decisive moment arrived through Liverpool's own doing. Goalkeeper Alisson played a poor pass that Arsenal capitalised on immediately, with Rice providing the assist for Havertz to convert and hand the Gunners the lead. It was a costly error that Liverpool could never recover from, earning Alisson a rating of just 4 from BBC Sport.

Arsenal's backline was outstanding throughout. Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes were both awarded 8s for their commanding performances at the heart of the defence, containing the threat of Alexander Isak with confidence. Riccardo Calafiori was equally disciplined on the left, limiting his attacking forays but delivering a solid shift at the back.

Rice the driving force

Rice was Arsenal's standout performer — his energy and relentless work rate in midfield were central to the Gunners' victory. The England international won the assist for the only goal and constantly disrupted Liverpool's attempts to build through the middle. BBC Sport handed him an 8, making him the joint-highest-rated player on the Arsenal side along with Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes.

Bruno Guimaraes put in an all-action display before being withdrawn just after the hour mark, while Martin Odegaard played a key role in winning back possession to spark the move that led to the opener. Jurrien Timber was also impressive, earning a 7 for his duel with Bradley Barcola on the right flank — though he was fortunate not to concede a penalty for a shirt pull on Isak.

Liverpool's bright spots cannot save the result

Liverpool were not without their moments. Barcola, who started on the left and caused Arsenal problems throughout, earned the highest rating among the Liverpool starters with a 7. Florian Wirtz struck the crossbar with a superb free-kick in the first half, though BBC Sport noted that a player of his price tag must deliver more in matches of this magnitude.

Trey Nyoni, just 19 years old, made his first Premier League start in a show of faith from manager Andoni Iraola, and grew into the game after an uncertain opening. Late substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly came on for Arsenal in the 62nd minute and helped the visitors manage the closing stages as Liverpool pressed for an equaliser.

Christos Tzolis, returning from injury for his first Arsenal start since September, provided a lively threat from the left and forced an excellent save from Alisson — a rare moment of quality for the goalkeeper in an otherwise damaging afternoon.