Little could separate Liverpool and Arsenal in what proved to be a cagey first-half between two of the Premier League’s early title contenders at Anfield.
In a mouth-watering clash that pitted last season’s champions against the runners-up, it was 45 minutes that yielded very few chances from either side.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had to contend with the absence of key players in Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard – the latter only making the bench – but his defence, yet to be breached so far this term, remained resolute.
Efforts from Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke were the closest either team came to finding the back of the net in a contest that initially failed to live up to the pre-match billing.
Arsenal are searching for their first win over Liverpool at Anfield in close to 13 years, the last time coming when Arteta was a player for the north Londoners.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will be looking for a creative spark from the likes of Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, who has 11 career goals against the Gunners, and record signing Florian Wirtz, who has yet to truly show his pedigree in the Premier League.
Eberechi Eze, on the bench for Arsenal after his £67.5million move from Crystal Palace, will be looking to make his first appearance for his new employers, while both teams have young starlets to call upon in the form of 15-year-old sensation Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha, who scored an 100th-minute winner over Newcastle on Monday.
