Rice says Anfield win was 'performance of champions' as Arsenal go top

Declan Rice says Arsenal are ready for more of the same after a 1-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday that he described as the performance of champions. The midfielder set up Kai Havertz for the only goal on 16 minutes, though his defensive work, his physicality and reading of the game, was arguably more impressive.

Liverpool were unhappy at the non-award of a penalty for a Jurrien Timber shirt pull on Alexander Isak in the 21st minute, and it was a day when the Kop fumed about Arsenal's streetwise tactics, particularly how they won free kicks, even if Arsenal's own players were also guilty of going down easily at times. Goalkeeper David Raya was booked for time wasting in the 92nd minute as Arsenal closed out the win.

The result followed a 1-0 away win at Nottingham Forest in Arsenal's previous Premier League away match, after which the side was criticised for a lack of creativity. This time the criticism centred on gamesmanship rather than a lack of threat, with Arsenal dangerous on the counterattack throughout.

“No game is plain sailing; it is always going to be tough,” Rice said, as quoted by The Guardian. “Looking back at that Forest game, it wasn't the best performance but we ground it out, we won and there's going to be more of that this season. But results like this one [at Liverpool] just make it that extra bit special so we are delighted.”

First Anfield league win since 2012

It was Arsenal's first league victory at Anfield since 2012, and the club has now won at four grounds this season where it did not win en route to last season's title, the others being Villa Park, the Stadium of Light and the City Ground.

“Any team who has won at Anfield in the past has never had it easy,” Rice said. “We had to dig in and give it everything because they throw so many attacks at you. We had to be resilient and strong. It was a great win.”

Asked whether Arsenal had played like champions, Rice replied: “For sure. It's just drilled into us. What the manager [Mikel Arteta] has built at this club and the togetherness of the lads, you don't get that performance without the lads being all together. The way the manager has everything under control, the way everyone works towards everything he wants is not like anything I've ever seen before. So credit to us for what we have been doing for the last few years. Now it's a massive thing to deliver again this year.”

Szoboszlai points to fine margins

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai said the defeat showed there were only fine margins between Andoni Iraola's side and the champions. Liverpool failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League home game for the first time since records began in 2003-04, according to Opta, as Arsenal moved three points clear at the top.

“We are just one penalty less and that's a big difference,” Szoboszlai said. “You know Anfield, you know our quality. I know they are a great team but it wouldn't be easy for them [to have come back from a successful penalty].”

On Iraola's suggestion that Liverpool players should go down more easily in the box, Szoboszlai said: “I don't think in this moment you can think: ‘Oh, let me wait for someone touching me and I'll fall down.’ No, Alex is focusing on the ball and he wants to head the ball in the net … It's a penalty. I don't know what they expect from us, to dive or something? I don't think we are the type of team or players to do that but from now on we might need to do it. If Alex falls down it's a clear penalty. Timber doesn't really care about the ball and maybe if he doesn't pull Alex's shirt Alex can head it in the goal.”

Arsenal sit three points clear at the top of the Premier League table with the win marking another milestone venue conquered under Arteta.