Liverpool started the game nervously, with passes going astray and Burnley making good use of the tactic of Chris Wood ruffling the feathers of the Reds’ inexperienced centre-half partnership to suggest Sean Dyche had successfully identified a weakness to exploit and give his side a big chance in the game. Andy Robertson shouting ‘calm, calm’ after 10 minutes of the match indicates how unsettled Liverpool were at the start.
Soon enough, however, Liverpool found a passing rhythm, with the midfield trio of Thiago Alcantara, Gini Wijnaldum and Fabinho linking up well with each other and with the Reds’ front three.
Golden chances fell to Sadio Mané, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino as well as Nat Phillips and Wijnaldum and frustration and anxiety grew as each and everyone was spurned.
Then, on the 43rd minute, a raid down the left from Andy Robertson resulted in the Scotland captain cleverly cutting the ball into the edge of the Burnley area where Firmino was waiting to slam the ball past the Clarets’ keeper.
A huge relief and a lead at half-time for Liverpool that they just about deserved.
Burnley began the second half well and pushed Liverpool back in search of an equaliser, only for tricky play from Mané on the 52nd minute ended with a smart chip to the back post where Phillips was waiting to thump the ball home with a firm header, a vital goal and the big centre-half’s first for the Reds.
Again, Burnley heads didn’t drop and they kept pressing to get back a goal and give Liverpool a nervous end. Only on 88 minutes could Liverpool relax when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, on as a substitute for Firmino, twisted and turned to find the space before rifling a powerful left-foot shot to seal the victory for Liverpool.
A great goal from a delighted player whose season has, again, been decimated by injury and perhaps a vital one for Liverpool as it gives them a four-goal goal difference over Leicester, with both teams on the same 66 points. If Liverpool beat Crystal Palace on Sunday – even by one goal – Leicester will need to score five against their last opponent, Tottenham, to overhaul the Reds. Not an impossible task for the Foxes, given that Spurs are in disarray, but an unlikely one.
