Declan Rice has revealed that Mikel Arteta challenged him to "do more" for Arsenal at the start of this season.

Rice's fifth Premier League assist of the season was enough to tee up Kai Havertz to score the winner in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday.

The win lifted Arsenal to the top of the league as they chase a second consecutive title.

"I think the manager had a really honest conversation with me at the start of the season and still thinks I can do more in this shirt and for this club," Rice said to Sky Sports after setting up the only goal against Liverpool.

"This season so far I've been feeling really good. We spoke about overlaps before this game and I spoke to Havertz about attacking the box with real aggression and he was there. He nearly could have had another one with the same action. I'm so happy for him because he deserves that goal and ultimately to win 1-0."

The win extended Arsenal's record in the Premier League to eight wins and one loss from nine games.

Asked if it was a big moment in the title race, Rice said: "No. I've learned that the table you can only take it seriously in February, March. If you're there, or thereabouts, then you are in with a shout. Anything between now and then, you just have to win as many as you can."

Rice said his team's "togetherness" and defensive focus countered Liverpool's "relentless attacks."

Liverpool had no shots on target for the first time ever in a Premier League home game.

"It's demanding," Rice said of playing at Liverpool. "That's the Anfield way. That's what this Liverpool team can do. This is what this stadium does to you. It just creates waves and waves after attack and you have to sustain it, especially with the attack that they've got, the quality that they have. We knew it wasn't going to be easy.

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"We've not won here in 14 years. We got off to a very good start. We could have probably managed the game better but it was relentless attacks. We could have probably done a bit more as well in front of goal but in the end that defensive line, the way we stick together, that togetherness we have it's undefeated. It's nothing I've ever seen before."

Havertz, meanwhile, was happy to have given Arsenal fans a moment to remember.

"I think it means a lot to the football club," the German forward said. "It's been 14 years. That's what [Arsenal fans] deserve and I think we're all happy that we gave it to them.

"We all know what this stadium is about, what the fans are about. They have big players, top players and I think they can show their quality. We knew that this was coming for us in this game and we all stuck together, we defended together."

Havertz heaped praise on Rice for his magnificent assist: "Ninety percent of the goal belongs to this man. We all know his right foot. Today he was there, brilliant overlap and perfect cross. For me it was an easy tap in. That goal definitely belongs to him."