At Anfield yesterday, the decisive moment came in the 83rd minute when Dominik Szoboszlai's free-kick from nearly 30 meters curled into the left corner of the net, grazing the inside of the post. Raya, positioned centrally, had anticipated Szoboszlai's shot, but couldn't make the save.

Dominik Szoboszlai scores from a free-kick during Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the third round of the Premier League at Anfield, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 31/8/2025. Photo: AP

"It's different from the Nike ball, so we have to adapt," the Spanish goalkeeper said after the match. "The grip and swerve are very different. We need to adapt after playing with the Nike ball for many years. Everyone does."

For the past 25 years, fans have been accustomed to seeing Premier League teams play with the Nike-branded ball. However, from the 2025-2026 season, the league switched to the Puma "Orbita Ultimate." The new ball features a 12-panel geometric design outlined with prominent pink lines, and a structure that improves weight distribution and aerodynamics.

"I'm disappointed I couldn't save it, like any other goal conceded," Raya added. "It was a great shot. I remember the ball swerving away from me. Hopefully next time I can save it. I'm still adapting. The swerve makes it harder to judge and save."

According to Raya, Arsenal aimed to attack, control the game, and show their character by limiting Liverpool's opportunities. "You have to take the positives from that," the 29-year-old goalkeeper expressed. "We don't lose many games against the Big 6. There are many steps to take and learn in every aspect. There are always things you have to learn. But we are on the right track."

David Raya holds the ball in the penalty area. Photo: Arsenal FC

In this match, coach Mikel Arteta deployed a defensively-minded midfield trio of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Mikel Merino. The Spanish coach denied that Arsenal planned to play defensively for a draw, stating their intention was to attack and secure three points. He explained that the team had limited midfield options with captain Martin Odegaard not fully recovered from injury and Kai Havertz out long-term.

"You can't control Liverpool at Anfield for 90 minutes, it's impossible," Arteta said. "But we made them suffer, which is rare. The game was decided by individual errors or moments of brilliance. We have to learn to take our chances and score in big games. This is a step forward compared to last year, but to win, you have to put the ball in the net."

The 43-year-old coach also expressed concern about William Saliba, revealing the French center-back had a problem during warm-up but still wanted to start, only to leave the field in the 5th minute. "I'm worried. When he can't play a game of this magnitude, there's clearly a problem," Arteta stated.

Hong Duy (according to The Sun)