Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester City to go top of the table as Kai Havertz's early goal secured a gritty 1-0 win over Liverpool, their first Premier League victory at Anfield since 2012.

Mikel Arteta's champions made the most of a fast start as Havertz steered Declan Rice's cross past Alisson in the 16th minute, though they had to do plenty of defending from then on.

Liverpool laid siege to Arsenal 'keeper David Raya's goal for most of the first half, with Florian Wirtz hitting the woodwork with an audacious free-kick and Alexis Mac Allister spurning a gilt-edged headed chance.

Andoni Iraola's side continued their downpour of pressure in the second half but ultimately did not register a shot on target - the first time since 2002/03 it has happened at Anfield in the competition - with Arsenal's win taking them three points clear at the summit.

How the match unfolded

The champions punished Liverpool early on as Martin Odegaard and Bruno Guimaraes combined to regain possession following a slack pass from Alisson, the Liverpool goalkeeper.

Guimaraes worked it wide right to Noni Madueke, who fed Rice on the overlap, and Havertz was well placed to finish the low cross at the back post.

That spurred Liverpool into life, and Alexander Isak almost turned Bradley Barcola's cross home, even with Jurrien Timber pulling his shirt. At the other end, Havertz was even closer to sliding in Guimaraes's cross-shot.

Timber unwittingly blocked Madueke's header from Arsenal's next chance, but the first half ended with Liverpool in the ascendancy and the Gunners clinging on.

Raya was lucky to see the ball flick wide off his defender Ezri Konsa when Isak looked primed for a tap-in, and fortune smiled on Arsenal again when Wirtz's angled free-kick clattered against the crossbar before Mac Allister powered a free header over from near the penalty spot.

Liverpool remained on top at the start of the second half, with Isak slicing wide of the near post, but as usual Arsenal remained resolute at the back.

A deflection off Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet prevented Odegaard from sweeping Christos Tzolis's cutback into an unguarded net, and Arsenal went even closer to putting the game beyond their hosts when the Greek's sweet shot was brilliantly palmed around the post by Alisson.

Tempers threatened to boil over when Mac Allister clashed with Odegaard and then Madueke, but Liverpool could not battle their way to an equaliser, with the defeat leaving them in fifth, nine points behind Arsenal.

Despite a lacklustre attacking performance from the Gunners, they recorded their 300th Premier League away win, only bettered by Manchester United. (premierleague.com)