Liverpool 3-1 Burnley: Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez on target at Anfield as Reds return to Premier League summit
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Updated 10/02/2024 at 21:30 GMT
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 win over Burnley at Anfield. Diogo Jota gave The Reds the lead before Clarets responded through Dara O'Shea. An effort by Luis Diaz saw the hosts reclaim a one-goal advantage before Darwin Nunez sealed the victory. The result sees Liverpool climb back above champions Manchester City at the summit.
iverpool's Uruguayan striker #09 Darwin Nunez (2L) celebrates scoring the team's third goal with Liverpool's Portuguese striker #20 Diogo Jota (L) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Burnley at Anfield.
Image credit: Getty Images
Liverpool showed off their aerial prowess to bounce back from their defeat at Arsenal to reclaim top spot in the Premier League with a merited 3-1 win over Burnley at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp's squad had been hit by flu ahead of this match and produced a sluggish performance in the first half following their defeat by the same scoreline to Mikel Arteta's side at the Emirates last weekend.
A brilliant header from Dara O'Shea just before the break saw Burnley cancel out Jota's headed finish for the home side on 31 minutes.
But Liverpool piled on the pressure after half-time as two more headers from Luis Díaz (52') and Darwin Nunez (79') saw them regain their place at the summit before a record Anfield crowd of 59,896.
They are two points clear of Manchester City, who completed a 2-0 win over Everton earlier in the day with Pep Guardiola's champions having played one game less.
Burnley remain second bottom of the standings, seven points adrift of safety after 24 matches, but Vincent Kompany's side will rue lacking a clinical edge.
Talking Point - Determined Liverpool grind out the win
Without their leading scorer Mohamed Salah due to AFCON and his hamstring injury, Klopp's side have been forced to win matches without their leading striker and without reaching peak form.
It is a trait of all strong sides as they overcame a forgettable first half against Burnley to finish strongly in securing the three points. Which is all that matters.
Minus Salah, Liverpool have scored 22 goals and won six games out of eight in all competitions. It is a mark of their mental strength and ability to maintain a winning mentality heading for the business end of the campaign.
Player of the Match - Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
A superb second-half cameo from young substitute Elliott, who helped swing the game in his side's favour with a sense of energy, purpose and the two telling crosses that enabled Liverpool to add the goals that returned them to the top of the table.
Player Ratings
Liverpool: Kelleher 7, Alexander-Arnold 7, Quansah 7, van Dijk 6, Robertson 7, Mac Allister 6, Endo 7, Jones 7, Jota 7, Nunez 7, Diaz 8 Subs: Gakpo 7, Elliott 9, Tsimikas 6, Clark 6, McConnell 6
Burnley: Trafford 6, Assignon 6, O'Shea 6, Esteve 6, Delcroix 6, Brownhill 6, Berge 6, Ramsey 6, Odobert 6, Fofana 6, Amdouni 6 Subs: Vitinho 6, Larsen 6, Massengo 6
Match Highlights
31' GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL! (JOTA) Disaster for Burnley as Trafford comes off his line to collect the corner from Alexander-Arnold. Misses the ball and that is an easy finish for Jota with the header. Would you believe it! Visitors somehow behind after such a bright start.
45' GOAL FOR BURNLEY! (O'SHEA) Well, would you believe it. Right on the stroke of half-time and the underdogs have levelled this as O'Shea scores with the bullet header from the Brownhill corner. Kelleher left with no chance. High into the corner of the net. 1-1. And Burnley deserve this.
52' GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL (DIAZ) VAR are going to check this as Diaz finishes the Elliott cross with his head. Was Elliott offside in the build-up? That is what they are checking now.
54' AND THE GOAL STANDS! Kompany has been booked in the Burnley technical area. He is very unhappy with that decision. Mac Allister seemed to have fouled Ramsey in the build-up to the goal, but VAR deemed it all above board. Well. 2-1 to Liverpool.
64' A CHANCE AT THE OTHER END Burnley refusing to throw in the towel as Kelleher races from his line to brilliantly block the finish from Fofana before Odobert rushes the rebound and slashes the ball miles off target when glory beckoned. Still 2-1.
66' STILL BURNLEY PRESS FOR A LEVELLER But Fofana misses the target with a curling attempt as Liverpool's defence was again cut open. Only had Kelleher to beat. Should have been 2-2.
79' GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL! (NUNEZ) Surely game, set and match for the home side as Nunez powers the header into the net from the Harvey Elliott corner. And Liverpool are heading back top of the table here.
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