Liverpool 3-1 Burnley: Darwin Nunez scores in front of new club record league attendance
Burnley #Burnley
Liverpool are undefeated in their past 27 Anfield matches in all competitions, scoring 80 goals in that time
Liverpool returned to the top of the table as they got back to winning ways against struggling Burnley in front of a club record league crowd at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were looking to respond after last weekend’s defeat by Arsenal, and having fallen a point behind Manchester City.
They took the lead through Diogo Jota’s header from a corner which Burnley keeper James Trafford failed to claim.
The Clarets, who have been in the relegation zone for most of the season, levelled before half-time through Dara O’Shea’s superb header before Luis Diaz restored the lead in the 52nd minute.
Burnley had several chances to equalise before Darwin Nunez’s header from Harvey Elliott’s cross sealed the points.
On a tetchy afternoon, both Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Burnley boss Vincent Kompany were booked by referee Tim Robinson for protesting after decisions went against their teams.
Liverpool were without first-choice keeper Alisson because of illness but stand-in Caoimhin Kelleher made a fine save to deny David Datro Fofana an equaliser when the score was 2-1.
The Reds, watched by a crowd of 59,896, had briefly been replaced at the top of the table after City’s 2-0 win over Everton in the early kick-off.
But Liverpool reclaimed their two-point advantage – albeit having played one game more than their nearest rivals – while Burnley remain 19th.
Relief for Reds
This was not a straightforward win for Liverpool, who were once again far from their best following the setback against Arsenal.
There was relief at the final whistle after Burnley, who have won just three league games all season, squandered some fine opportunities to score, while Kelleher came to the rescue to keep out Fofana after half-time.
It was only after Nunez’s header in the 79th minute that the Reds were able to relax after numerous scares.
Liverpool, who were also without Joe Gomez through illness, have been good at grinding out results without playing particularly well this season and their latest performance certainly fell into that category.
But it is results that count at this stage of the season – and the Reds still have Mohamad Salah to return from a hamstring injury, although they have coped in the absence of their leading scorer.
This was their sixth win in eight games in all competitions since Salah last played for the club, and they have scored 22 times in that period.
Another positive for Klopp was a first start for four months for full-back Andy Robertson after injury but there was concern after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s game was cut short by a knee problem.
“It’s nothing really bad but he felt it again and we have to see,” Klopp said.
“We were made aware of it in the game so I thought ‘what can we do?’ then Trent said ‘no, it’s fine’. But it’s not as he feels it so we had to be careful and take him off.”
Liverpool 3-1 Burnley: ‘No sulking’ – Vincent Kompany maintains belief in ClaretsClarets show spirit but future looks bleak
Burnley’s hopes of avoiding relegation look decidedly bleak following a 17th league defeat.
The club that finished on 101 points in the Championship last season are seven points from safety, with Arsenal to come next weekend.
Clarets boss Kompany, a four-time Premier League winner, never won at Anfield in eight visits with Manchester City and he once again left empty-handed despite seeing his players carve out nine attempts, four of which were on target.
Fofana, starting for the first time since joining on loan from Chelsea, put a good chance wide having earlier been denied by Kelleher.
There were positives for Kompany as Burnley started well, and responded through O’Shea’s header after falling behind.
But the worry for the Clarets is that they have now conceded 50 goals and are without a win in five Premier League games.
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Player of the match
Diogo JotaDiogo Jota
Burnley
Squad number2Player nameO’Shea
Squad number23Player nameFofana
Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
Squad number1Player nameTrafford
Squad number47Player nameOdobert
Squad number25Player nameAmdouni
Squad number33Player nameEsteve
Squad number21Player nameA Ramsey
Squad number16Player nameBerge
Squad number20Player nameAssignon
Squad number44Player nameDelcroix
Squad number22Player nameVitinho
Squad number42Player nameMassengo
Squad number34Player nameBruun Larsen
Line-upsLiverpool
Formation 4-3-3
62Kelleher
66Alexander-Arnold78Quansah4van Dijk26Robertson
10Mac Allister3Endo17Jones
20Jota9Núñez7Díaz
Substitutes
Burnley
Formation 4-4-2
1Trafford
20Assignon2O’Shea33Esteve44Delcroix
21A Ramsey16Berge8Brownhill47Odobert
23Fofana25Amdouni
Substitutes
Referee:Tim Robinson
Attendance:59,896
Live Text
Match ends, Liverpool 3, Burnley 1.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 3, Burnley 1.
Substitution, Liverpool. Kostas Tsimikas replaces Andy Robertson.
Substitution, Liverpool. Bobby Clark replaces Alexis Mac Allister.
Substitution, Liverpool. James McConnell replaces Wataru Endo.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Vitinho.
Attempt blocked. Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andy Robertson.
Attempt saved. Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wataru Endo.
Attempt missed. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Darwin Núñez.
Foul by Diogo Jota (Liverpool).
Wilson Odobert (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dara O’Shea (Burnley).
Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Brownhill (Burnley).
Attempt missed. Darwin Núñez (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Andy Robertson with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Sander Berge.
Offside, Liverpool. Cody Gakpo is caught offside.
Wataru Endo (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Brownhill (Burnley).
