Liverpool have landed another blow and Ibrahima Konate response speaks volumes

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.

Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

It may be very early in the season.

But Liverpool landed a psychological blow on Arsenal in the Premier League title race with their victory at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

In terms of clawing back points, the Gunners will know there is no real issue as they can do that by winning the reverse fixture later in the campaign.

But it was the message that it sent out that will bother the Londoners and act as a major boost for Arne Slot’s side as a much-changed team continues to adjust and adapt.

READ MORE:Liverpool were always going to win Alexander Isak battle - and Newcastle should have knownREAD MORE:Liverpool must wait for transfer answer as Arsenal and Newcastle dealt glaring reality check

I said last week that I’d love it if Liverpool dogged out a scrappy 1-0 win against Arsenal, and so it proved.

I had no problems at all with what Mikel Arteta tried to do.

Their gameplan was to restrict Liverpool and be happy with a goalless draw, and they nearly got it.

It was always going to take a mistake or piece of magic to win the game, and Dominik Szoboszlai provided the latter with his free-kick.

What a hit that was.

Szoboszlai was by far the best player on the park, and it was probably his best game for Liverpool.

He was superb at right-back, with his energy levels helping as they have done when he features in midfield.

They were attacking the ball to head it clear rather than waiting for it.

The win keeps Liverpool’s momentum going into the international break, which has been backed up by then breaking the transfer record to sign the Premier League’s best striker.

After a difficult summer, it’s been a good start to the season.

Defensive duo respond

It was a pity Liverpool couldn’t get a deal for Marc Guehi over the line on Monday, although I do expect them to have another go in January.

We will just have to hope Joe Gomez remains fit, because the evidence at the weekend is that he remains an important player.

He was terrific when he came on against Arsenal.

Nobody doubts Gomez’s abilities, but the worry has always been about keeping him available.

With Virgil van Dijk purring, Ibrahima Konate much improved on Sunday and the young lad Giovani Leoni waiting in the wings, Arne Slot does have strength in depth at centre-back for now.

I was pleased for Konate.