Liverpool’s work in progress fizzles out in the face of streetwise champions | Andy Hunter

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At the final whistle Mikel Arteta leapt into the arms of the first-team coach Gabriel Heinze as he celebrated the release of his first win at Liverpool as Arsenal manager, his club’s first league victory at Anfield in 14 years and the champions moving three points clear at the top of the table. For the first time in 16 years Liverpool failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League game.Iraola’s complaint about Liverpool’s two defeats this season both turning on contentious refereeing decisions was valid.

Nyoni impressed Iraola from the moment he walked into the club this summer and stepped up a level on Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US. Arsenal rightly survived a video assistant referee’s check for a penalty against Christos Tzolis in the spell of pressure that followed Nyoni’s intervention.The youngster’s composure on the ball and intelligent reading of the game were the most encouraging aspects of his full league debut.

What worked against Nyoni, however, was Liverpool’s need to chase the game from as early as the 16th minute. It was a reflection of the circumstances, not Nyoni’s own contribution, when he was replaced by Szoboszlai in the 59th minute.There was chaos but no clarity to Liverpool’s performance in the final third, however.