Burnley 0-2 Liverpool: Darwin Nunez breaks goal drought as Reds move top with win against Clarets at Turf Moor
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Updated 26/12/2023 at 21:36 GMT
Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota were on the scoresheet as Liverpool beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor in the Premier League. The win moves Jurgen Klopp’s side top of the league, moving two points ahead of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side play against West Ham on Thursday. Liverpool sit top on 42 points after 19 matches with the Gunners on 40 points after 18 games.
Liverpool's Uruguayan striker #09 Darwin Nunez celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor in Burnley, north-west England on December 26, 2023.
Image credit: Getty Images
Darwin Nunez ended his barren run in front of goal and Diogo Jota returned to action with a bang as Liverpool moved to the Premier League summit courtesy of a 2-0 victory at Burnley.
Nunez had failed to score in his 12 previous outings for the Merseysiders but found the mark on six minutes with a delightful low finish from just outside the penalty area.
Burnley lacked a cutting edge despite some eye-catching approach play and the visitors could have been out of sight at the interval as Cody Gapko had a goal chalked off for a foul in the build-up and Mohamed Salah saw a dipping effort clip the bar.
The pattern continued following the break and Harvey Elliott had another goal ruled out following a VAR intervention.
Burnley were buoyed by the let off and went close late on but Liverpool eventually sealed the points when substitute Jota marked his return from injury with an excellent finish from a narrow angle.
The result means the Merseysiders are now two points clear of second-placed Arsenal having played a game more. The Gunners can regain top spot when they face West Ham on Thursday.
Next up Burnley, who remain 19th and five points adrift of 17th-placed Everton, visit Villa on Saturday. Liverpool host Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
Talking Point – Liverpool get the job done but need to be more clinical heading into 2024
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been speaking about how some matches have been too close given his side’s dominance and this was another example right here.
The Merseysiders may feel the two goals they had ruled out were a tad harsh, but once again they were less than ruthless in the final third.
It made what could and perhaps should have been a routine victory a bit nervy in the closing stages as The Clarets had one or two moments to snatch a leveller.
In the end, the return of Jota could be a cameo of what’s to come as he added some much-needed clinical finishing off the bench. The Portugal star has a knack for popping up in the right places in the box and his recovery from injury will be a welcome and timely boost, along with a rare clean sheet on the Reds' travels that turns the pressure Arsenal’s way heading towards 2024.
Player of the match
James Trafford (Burnley). Liverpool were guilty of profligacy at times but credit must also go to the Clarets keeper who made a catalogue of brilliant saves to keep his team in the hunt right until the very end of the encounter.
Player Ratings
BURNLEY: Trafford 9, Vitinho 6, O'Shea 6, Beyer 6, Taylor 6, Tresor 7, Berge 6, Brownhill 6, Odobert 7, Foster 6, Amdouni 6. Subs: Gudmundsson 6, Redmond n/a, Bruun Larsen n/a, Ramsey n/a.
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 6, Alexander-Arnold 7, Van Dijk 8, Quansah 8, Gomez 8, Gravenberch 6, Endo 7, Elliott 7, Salah 6, Gakpo 7, Nunez 7. Subs: Jones 6, Diaz 7, Szoboszlai 6, Jota n/a.
Match Highlights
06’ – GOAL! – Burnley 0-1 Liverpool: (Nunez). Darwin Nunez guides a lovely first-time finish into the far corner from just outside of the area after smart play down the left by Gakpo.
34’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Salah races after Gakpo’s incisive pass but his dipping 20-yarder clips the top of the bar and bounces over.
68’ – BURNLEY CHANCE! Gudmundsson nods a free header over at the far post after he arrived on cue to meet a fizzing cross from the left by Odobert.
72’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Jones nods TAA's cross back into the danger zone but somehow Szoboszlai fails to convert at the back post.
90’ – GOAL! – Burnley 0-2 Liverpool: (Jota). The Portuguese forward is back with a bang. He takes Diaz's pass on the left side of the box and rifles a low shot from a tight angle beyond the keeper.
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