In a match settled by a single goal, Havertz supplied the difference. Arsenal’s narrow win means the league leaders leave Anfield with the points, while Liverpool are left to assess the cost of a defeat that widened the distance between the sides.
The margin was slim; the table impact was not. A nine-point lead over a direct rival gives Arsenal room to absorb a setback, but it does not settle the title race. The challenge now is to turn a landmark away result into consistent performances.
The result also carries a talking point. The report says Jurrien Timber tugged at Alexander Isak in the first half, an incident officials did not spot that might have led to a penalty. Had the decision gone Liverpool’s way, the game could have taken a different course.
That possibility does not change the score, but it underlines how much hinged on one goal and one disputed moment. Arsenal will point to the win; Liverpool may feel the missed opportunity deserves scrutiny.
For Arsenal, the next test is sustaining their advantage after a rare success at a ground where they had struggled to win. For Liverpool, the nine-point gap makes their response all the more important. The next round of league matches will show whether this was a turning point in the title race or a setback both teams can still absorb.