Andoni Iraola took positives from the performance in a 1-0 loss for Liverpool against Arsenal.

Kai Havertz handed the three points to the Gunners with a close-range finish from a superb Declan Rice delivery as the reigning champions created pressure and pushed hard at the start of the match.

‘I honestly felt our goal was coming’

But it was their defensive discipline and doggedness that dragged out a first victory at Anfield since the summer of 2012.

Even though the men of Mikel Arteta might not have conceded a single shot on target over the 90 minutes of the match, they were not given an easy time by their hosts on the day.

“Overall, I think we have to blame especially the start of the game and until we conceded the goal. I think the start hasn't been at the level of the game.

“But from that 1-0, I think it's [after] 15 or 16 minutes, I've loved the reaction of the team. Even in the first half, I think we reacted really well and put Arsenal under big pressure. I think we've done enough to score but obviously we haven't. But we had the crossbar [hit by Florian Wirtz], we had the header of Alexis Mac Allister that, for me, is a very clear chance.

Penalty appeals and fine margins

“I think we had a clear penalty for us and we had a lot of situations inside the box – not even around the box, inside the box – that definitely we haven't finished properly. The Isak one is a clear penalty. He is going to head the ball in front of goal and they grab him where everyone sees the shirt.

“And then after, the Cody Gakpo one, I think it's sustained holding but I understand the argument and I think they are right that they say the ball was too long and Cody wouldn't have arrived to the ball. But then you're basically accepting that the first one is a pen, no? So, you cannot use the argument in both ways differently. So, I think it's a pen, the Alex one is.

“[Fine margins are] very important because we had the same feeling against Manchester City a little bit [with] the first yellow of Ryan Gravenberch.

“Small things in these kinds of games that are so, so close and every detail matters. They have not gone for us this season but we will see. The season is long and probably the next day it goes for us.

“We’ve done more than enough to score. Probably what we need to correct is the beginning of the game until we conceded. It's true we conceded when we mess up a goal-kick, but the feeling I had before was that their goal was closer than ours.

“From that moment I think the game has changed to our favour. It is true that probably they didn't need to take risks and they go deeper, but I honestly felt our goal was coming because I think we've created enough pressure.”