- Liverpool secured a crucial 3-1 win over Burnley at Anfield on Saturday to regain the top spot in the Premier League standings
- The Reds had been briefly replaced by Manchester City, who beat Everton in the first match of the day
Liverpool secured a crucial 3-1 win over Burnley at Anfield on Saturday during the Liverpool vs Burnley fixture. The Reds were looking to respond after last weekend’s lose to Arsenal and they did so in brilliant fashion, thanks to goals from Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool took the lead in the first half through Jota before sealing the win after the break in front of a record league crowd at home. Burnley’s only goal of the match was scored by Dara O’Shea on the stroke of half time.
The 3-1 win helped Liverpool regain the top spot in the Premier League standings, having been briefly replaced by Manchester City who played earlier. Jurgen Klopp’s side are on top of the table with 54 points, just two above the Cytizens who have a game in hand.
Liverpool vs Burnley. Photo/ Football on Dailysports.
Things are starting to become tight on top of the table, something that Klopp is very much aware of.
“I know it’s every week. You add in Tottenham – who got a big win for them today. Villa play tomorrow. They are all in the mix and Arsenal. Two weeks ago we had the perfect squad situation. Two weeks later we are short in each area. Like, wow. It all can happen. We all need luck to get through it when you don’t have that, you have to fight through it.” Jurgen Klopp said on the title race after his team beat Burnley to go top of the table.
Liverpool vs Burnley
Jurgen Klopp made a few changes to his starting XI, including replacing the number one goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who was ill, with Caoimhin Kelleher. Andy Robertson was handed his first start since October after his shoulder issue and Wataru Endo returned from the Asian Cup, where he was with Japan, to start in midfield.
On the other hand, Burnley manager Vincent Kompany handed David Datro Fofana his first start since arriving from Chelsea on loan during the January transfer window.
Now into the action, Liverpool were sluggish and sloppy at the start of the Liverpool vs Burnley match. The visitors looked to cause a seismic upset, with Liverpool’s stand-in goalie Kelleher being forced to make a superb save early on to deny Zeki Amdouni.
Despite struggling for the better part of the first 45 minutes, Liverpool were the first to score, thanks to Diogo Jota. The Portuguese forward, who netted in the reverse fixture, headed home from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross in the 31st minute to put the hosts in front.
Burnley found the equalizer from a set-piece in the 45th minute when Josh Brownhill’s delivery was headed home by Dara O’Shea. It was the Irishman’s first ever Premier League goal.
Liverpool suffered another setback at halftime when Alexander-Arnold was replaced as an injury precaution. However, Harvey Elliot did well to fill the shoes left by the England international as he created the chances for the two goals that saw the Reds secure victory.
Liverpool beat Burnley 3-1. Photo/ Eurosport.
The 20-year-old’s squared ball into the box was converted by Luis Diaz, though Burnley wanted the goal to be ruled out for a foul on Aaron Ramsey in the build-up.
Vincent Kompany’s side should have equalized afterwards, but Fofana was denied from close range after making a brilliant run. The Ivorian had another opportunity a few minutes later but his shot went wide.
Darwin Nunez, who has been in stellar form this campaign, then sealed the win for the Reds after Burnley failed to level the scores. This was not a straightforward victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side but all that matters is the three points which they collected in the end.
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