There was a spell at Anfield when Liverpool looked capable of dragging themselves back into the game. Arsenal had taken the lead, but for much of the final 30 minutes of the first half, Andoni Iraola’s side had the visitors pinned back, probing for an equaliser and beginning to find some rhythm.

Florian Wirtz struck the crossbar with a free-kick. Alexis Mac Allister, unmarked, sent a header over the crossbar. Alexander Isak found space but could not make the most of his opportunity. Liverpool had the momentum, the crowd behind them and enough attacking quality on the pitch to make Arsenal uncomfortable.

Yet the goal never came. And, ultimately, that was the difference.

Arsenal’s 1-0 victory was not simply a case of Liverpool failing to take their chances. It was a demonstration of the defensive standards required to win matches at the very top of the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s side had to withstand pressure, but they did so with organisation, discipline and a clear understanding of what the occasion demanded.

For Liverpool, the afternoon offered encouragement about their capacity to compete, but also a reminder of how much remains to be done.

The defining feature of Arsenal’s performance was their ability to manage the game after taking the lead.

Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute finish, following Declan Rice’s delivery, gave the visitors the advantage. Liverpool’s opening had been below the required standard, and a misplaced Alisson pass had helped Arsenal turn their early superiority into the decisive goal.

From that point, the contest changed. Liverpool pushed forward, Arsenal were forced deeper and the hosts enjoyed their strongest period of the afternoon. But there is a difference between putting an opponent under pressure and consistently finding a way through them.

Arsenal understood that distinction.

Their defensive shape remained compact, spaces between the lines became increasingly difficult to exploit and Liverpool were repeatedly forced to search for openings that were not really there. The visitors were not immune to pressure, nor did they have everything under control throughout, but they were able to absorb Liverpool’s best spell without allowing the game to get away from them.

The second half was particularly revealing. Liverpool needed to increase the urgency, but Arsenal were more comfortable defending their lead. The visitors managed the spaces, disrupted the rhythm and made it increasingly difficult for Iraola’s side to build anything resembling sustained danger.

Even when Liverpool committed bodies forward late on, David Raya was rarely seriously troubled.

That is a considerable achievement against a side with the attacking resources Liverpool possess.

The numbers make uncomfortable reading. Liverpool attempted 17 shots at Anfield and failed to register a single one on target. It was the first time they had failed to hit the target in a Premier League home match since records began in 2003-04.

It would be too simplistic to suggest that Arsenal merely benefited from Liverpool’s poor finishing. The quality of their defending contributed directly to the lack of opportunities. But the statistic also underlines a problem that Iraola must address.

Liverpool have players capable of deciding matches. Wirtz can create from seemingly impossible positions, Isak offers a threat through the middle, while Cody Gakpo and Bradley Barcola provide different qualities in wide areas. There is no shortage of individual talent.

The challenge is making those qualities translate into consistent attacking output against the best organised opponents.

Liverpool moved the ball into dangerous areas and spent long periods around Arsenal’s penalty area. But possession and territory are not enough. The final pass, the movement to create separation and the composure to execute in crowded spaces all have to be better.

Iraola acknowledged as much afterwards. He was pleased with the reaction following the opening goal and felt Liverpool had created enough situations to score, but also recognised that his side had not finished those opportunities properly. He was equally clear that Arsenal had defended very well in the second half.

That assessment matters. Liverpool cannot simply point to the crossbar, Mac Allister’s header or the penalty appeal involving Isak and conclude that the result was down to fine margins. Those moments were important, but the broader issue was the inability to sustain a meaningful attacking threat once Arsenal had adjusted.

There is no need to treat this defeat as a verdict on Iraola’s Liverpool. The winning run that preceded it demonstrated the progress made under the Spaniard, and there were periods against Arsenal when his side showed the intensity and attacking intent that have made his appointment exciting.

But this was a different examination.

Arsenal are operating at a level Liverpool want to reach. They know how to take control of difficult away games, how to protect an advantage and how to make opponents work exceptionally hard for every opportunity. Liverpool are still trying to develop those habits under a new manager.

The nine-point gap between the sides makes the difference in their current positions plain. It is not necessarily a reflection of Liverpool’s ultimate potential, but it is an indication of the work still required.

The encouraging part for Iraola is that Liverpool were not completely outplayed. Their response after conceding was strong, and there were genuine opportunities to change the outcome. The concern is that, even with so much attacking talent available, they could not find a way to turn that pressure into a goal.

That is where the next stage of Liverpool’s development has to begin. They need to become more incisive, more intelligent in the final third and better equipped to break down opponents who are prepared to defend deep and deny them space.

Arsenal provided a clear example of what that looks like at the highest level. Liverpool had their spell, but the visitors survived it, adapted and took the points.

The result ended Liverpool’s five-match winning run. More importantly, it showed the distance still separating them from the team they are trying to catch.