The German stole in at the far post to convert Declan Rice’s low cross, and it was the only goal of the game, as we dug in to repel everything the hosts had to throw at us after that. 

The first half saw plenty of goalmouth action, but Havertz was the only one to find the net.

The rest of the half was mainly about repelling the threat of Liverpool, though we also came close to extending our lead through Bruno and Noni Madueke. 

We continued to work hard in the second half, preventing Liverpool from having a single shot on target, to see out a fantastic win at Anfield - our first since 2012 - and go back to the top of the league.

HAVERTZ ON TARGET

The game began at a blistering pace, with Liverpool pressing us high whenever we were in possession. The returning Christos Tzolis, playing his first game for a month, threatened to get in behind the Liverpool back line on the counter attack twice in the opening ten minutes though. The first time his low cross was cut out and the second he ran out of ground before he could send the ball into the box.

Rice then shot well over from 25 yards before we went ahead.

Alisson’s rushed clearance was cut out by Martin Odegaard and the ball was quickly recycled to the advancing Rice on the right. His low cross was perfectly placed, through the corridor of uncertainty, and gleefully tapped home at the far post by Havertz.

The goal made him the all-time leading German goalscorer in Premier League history. 

STRONG UNDER PRESSURE

Liverpool responded well to falling behind and started to put us under pressure. Alexander Isak had a glorious chance in front of goal but couldn’t get his head to an inswinging cross before Bruno came to the rescue to stop a Barcola run at the near post. 

At the other end Bruno dragged a shot just wide after Tzolis led another counter attack, before Madueke was denied by Alisson at the far post from a deep Tzolis cross. 

Liverpool were the more dangerous team though, and we had to stand form as they had their tails up and won a succession of corners.

Virgil van Dijk came close when his header was dangerous, but David Raya got enough on it low down to turn it away. 

Florian Wirtz was next to go close. His free kick from a narrow angle beat everyone, and looked to be looping in, but thumped off the cross bar and away.

The crosses continued to rain in. Alexis Mac Allister arrived in front of goal to meet a left wing ball, but planted his header over the bar.

Liverpool were enjoying much more of the possession, and much of the game was being played in and around our own penalty box, but Konsa and Gabriel stood firm as we got to half-time with a narrow lead.

TZOLIS COMES CLOSE

Liverpool came out strongly at the start of the second half too, and we had to remain compact and organised.

We retained a threat on the break, and Tzolis capitalised on a slip to burst into the box, and his cross was heading for Odegaard before a well-timed intervention.

Riccardo Calafiori then saw his low cross cleared on the line as we began to come back into the game again.

Tzolis then forced an excellent lo diving save from Alisson when his first time right-footed shot seemed destined for the bottom corner.

But make no mistake, we were also having to work hard at the back. Jurrien Timber was the next to make a crucial block in his own box.

All the work paid off, as we saw out the win to return to the top of the table – our 300th Premier League away victory. 

WHAT’S NEXT

We head back into Europe in midweek, to play Slavia Prague away on Wednesday evening on Matchday Four in the Champions League. Our next Premier League game is at home to Hull City next Saturday before the November international break.