What Arsenal made Gary Neville do against Liverpool as Viktor Gyokeres collision says it all

Arsenal were unable to convert a strong performance in two-thirds of the pitch into anything to take home from Anfield after Dominik Szoboszlai's late free kick stole a win for Liverpool. In a battle of last season's top two, the margins were tight.

Mikel Arteta's men had the better of the game but failed to turn it into a goal as familiar questions over their ability to win the biggest games were raised. Arsenal have been the best when it comes to not losing against top six sides but fell short of anything here.

After a bright display from Noni Madueke on the right, Arsenal could not replicate the stardust of Bukayo Saka or Martin Odegaard. They were undone by a set piece, a route they have so often taken to victory.

Here, football.london goes through some of the finer moments from Sunday's early-season showdown.

Raya responds

It took something special for David Raya to be beaten for the first time this season. The wait for Arsenal to concede an open play goal goes on but that means little after the Gunners were unable to claim even a point from a game they never seemed in massive danger of losing.

That is exactly what Raya showed in the moments after Szoboszlai's stunning free kick. As the camera panned to the Arsenal goalkeeper he puffed out his cheeks as if to say: 'what was I meant to do?' The ball whistled past him and in off the post from a long way out.

Dipping and launching goalwards, Raya was unable to scramble across his line enough to claw back a strike out of the very top drawer. He had positioned himself to the left before shuffling over to his right as Szoboszlai ran towards the ball. He continued the dash after seeing the trajectory but wasn't able to do anything about to the goal.

Not many score past Raya. Even fewer do it like that. It's what it takes to get one past Arsenal these days.

Saliba warm up

It only took four minutes for William Saliba to hit the deck. Cristhian Mosquera was on a matter of seconds later. It was all a bit too speedy for it to be a freak. Arsenal were too prepared.

The collision between Saliba and Hugo Ekitike was minimal. It was off the ball after a long kick from Alisson which ended up with Raya. What has become clear since is that Saliba was not fully fit.

Images from the warmup show him walking off with his arm around a member of the medical staff. Arsenal chose against making a late change to the starting XI and deemed Saliba fine to go ahead.

As it happens, he could not last 300 seconds. Arsenal will now hope that there is nothing too serious and that being precautionary early on was the right call. Saliba came out in the second half without a hobble, wearing a club tracksuit and taking his position on the bench.

Neville outburst

To say Gary Neville was left disappointed with the quality on show here would be an understatement. From just after the 30 minute mark he continually reference a lack of ambition to play forward passes.

"They play more dangerous passes here than they do in the other half," he said on commentary for Sky Sports as Raya attempted to fizz a ball into midfield from his own area. Virgil van Dijk intercepted the pass and steamed towards the edge of the box without much resistance.

The defender was eventually shut down by white shirts and Arsenal got away with the mistake but Neville was left unimpressed with the ambition from both sides. "Passing backwards has become a disease in the game," he later added after Arsenal ended back with Raya following a throw near to Noni Madueke on the right wing.

"If they had it 50 or 60 yards further forward they wouldn't play it into [Viktor] Gyokeres' feet but they will with their own goalkeeper in the box," he said. "They're programmed."

For those listening to his analysis, it was hard to ignore. For those either not watching, viewing with a different broadcaster, or there at Anfield, the remarks may well strike a chord anyway. The first half saw both sides lacking in adventure.

Arsenal will argue that being away from home at the champions and without their captain, best player, and very quickly centre-back, a safety-first approach is only fair. It is how they have kept up such a strong record in big matches and how Arteta has built his team to give up as little as possible.

Neville's frustration chimes on a day that was played with the handbrake on and priorities shaken to favour patient build-up rather than incisive attacking football. Hardly a 'Super' Sunday.

Rice free kick

It would have been quite hard to miss Declan Rice's woeful free kick after half an hour. It joins Raheem Sterling's ballooned effort for Chelsea in 2024 against Leicester City in the FA Cup and a Robert Huth slice job as one of the worst dead ball efforts captured.

However, Rice's reaction was less obvious. As soon as he made contact with the ball, which was placed between the halfway line and Liverpool goal, it was clear that Rice had made a mistake.

Alisson seemed to be preparing for a shot right from the start, lining up his defence much deeper than is normal for a cross from a similar area. Rice's run up was straight as if to generate power rather than curved in a bid to create whip. Against one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, it was ambitious to say the least.

The outcome was horrendous as the ball went sailing high into the back of the Kop, flying over the bar. Rice saw the funny side, laughing it off and having a joke. It certainly wasn't one out of Nicolas Jover's play book but Rice has earned the right to try these things after his pair of strikes against Real Madrid and general top notch set piece delivery.

Gyokeres ram

There is nothing too subtle about Gyokeres. The new Arsenal is speed, power, straight lines, and direct to goal. He has one direction and that is forward.

It is how he dribbles, how he tries to create chances through runs, and how he shoots: full pelt and without compromise. The first player to find that out on Sunday was Alisson.

As Liverpool passed slowly from their defence in the opening exchanges, Alisson dallied slightly too long in possession and summoned Gyokeres to press. The Swedish battering ram needed no such invitation.

He charged towards Alisson, bundling into him a split-second after the ball had been released. There was no exaggerated fall from Alisson and Gyokeres did not follow through but his attempts to win the ball were certainly late.

This is a sight to get used to. Gyokeres may not have many different levels or modes to his game but the unrelenting energy and running will be valuable. This was one of very few times he would end up being close to Alisson after another isolated appearance. He still left his mark on the goalkeeper.