Liverpool vs Burnley

Thursday’s only Premier League tie played out a short time ago.

Said clash would see Liverpool welcome Burnley to Anfield as they looked to get their campaign back on track.

Following their draw with Manchester United last week, the Reds slipped down to 4^th in the table.

And after Manchester United, Manchester City and Leicester picked up victories earlier this week, Liverpool have slipped even further off the pace of top spot.

As a result, a win over a struggling Burnley at Anfield was imperative.

Jurgen Klopp’s side would head into Thursday’s tie winless in their last four PL games. However, they were also 68 games unbeaten at Anfield in the league and also boast a superb record against Sean Dyche’s side.

So, a win for the Reds, despite their questionable form of late, did seem very likely.

But when all was said and done at Anfield, it would be Burnley who came away with a shock victory.

Stalemate

Liverpool had the first decent chance of the tie two minutes in, when Fabinho connected with Xherdan Shaqiri’s lovely cross from the right, though the Brazilian was only able to direct his header wide.

The Reds then threatened from another corner minutes later, but nobody was able to properly capitalise on Sadio Mane’s flick-on.

But for all their early dominance, Jurgen Klopp’s side were unable to carve out any real clear-cut chances, an all too familiar story for the Reds of late.

Burnley then forced a solid stop out of Alisson with 12 minutes gone, as the Brazilian once again looked to save Liverpool from embarrassment.

Joel Matip then did well to intercept Ashley Barnes as Burnley looked to hit Liverpool on the counter.

This was swiftly followed by Shaqiri curling an effort from the edge of the box just past Nick Pope’s goal. Pope was then able to comfortably stop Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long-range effort.

That was …

Xherdan Shaqiri has a strike from outside the box and almost opens the scoring!

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— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 21, 2021

Divock Origi then had a couple of long-range shots of his own, though none really troubled Burnley’s no.1.

Andy Robertson was the next Liverpool star to get a shot off. Yet again, though, it wasn’t a great opportunity and Pope was able to easily palm it away.

By far and away the home side’s best chance of the first half fell to Origi 42 minutes in. A mistake from Ben Mee left the Belgian through one-on-one with Pope, but the forward could only rattle the bar.

The first 45 drew to a close with Jurgen Klopp and co. no doubt extremely frustrated that his side had not been able to break the deadlock.

Liverpool have failed to score in 8 successive Premier League halves (393 minutes).

Important second half ahead at Anfield. pic.twitter.com/jE2BaJy7Qg

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 21, 2021

Liverpool beaten at Anfield

Liverpool started the second 45 in lively fashion, with Trent Alexander-Arnold forcing a good save from Pope 50 minutes in.

Thiago was then forced to chop down Barnes to prevent a Burnley counter.

With the game still level, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were introduced in place of Origi and Oxlade-Chamberlain 57 minutes in.

Salah’s first real involvement came on the hour-mark when he was played in by Wijnaldum and denied by Pope.

The Egyptian then looked to turn provider, finding Mane who blazed his effort over. Roberto Firmino took a turn to smash a shot wide, with pretty much everyone on Liverpool’s team looking seriously out of form and devoid of confidence.

And as the game wore on and Liverpool continued to waste chances, Burnley began to grow into the clash and made a couple of opportunities.

Alisson, who had been one of the Merseysider’s few bright sparks in recent weeks, then handed the away side a chance to win the tie, coming off his line to wipe out Barnes in the box.

The forward stepped up to convert the ensuing spot-kick, which handed Burnley a huge three points and ended Liverpool’s unbeaten run at Anfield in the Premier League, which had lasted for 68 games.

The result means Liverpool remain six points off top sot and four points behind Manchester City, who also have a game in hand on the Reds.

It also means the Reds have now gone four league ties without scoring a single goal. And with a tough run of games coming up, Klopp really needs to help his side rediscover their shooting boots, or they could well slip out of the top-four and well away from the title race in the coming weeks.

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