You have to assume that Burnley would have continued with these spoiling tactics if the game had remained goalless but, fortunately, on the 18th minute, some smart play down the left by Naby Keita ended with the ball finding its way to Tsimikas who had time to line up the perfect cross for Diogo Jota, who made a clever run to befuddle and get ahead of Burnley centre-half Ben Mee and glance the ball with his head passed the helpless Nick Pope in the Clarets’ goal.
All of a sudden, down by a goal, Burnley had to give up playing anti-football and, indeed, once they did this they offered some threat to Liverpool, with balls over the top or crosses from out wide for the imposing Chris Wood to work with suggesting that the game wasn’t over.
Liverpool looked to have a scored a second after 26 minutes with a sublime passage of play involving Trent Alexander Arnold and the excellent Harvey Elliot – making his first Premier League start at Anfield, aged 18 – ending with the ball at the feet of Mo Salah, who curled the ball into the corner of the net. The Liverpool players celebrated, only for VAR to rule the goal out for a marginal offside. The correct decision.
In the second half, the Reds continued to dominate the game, creating a series of chances, particularly for Sadio Mané, who squandered shots and headers.
Finally, Burnley’s increasingly desperate resistance was breached on 69 minutes after Virgil van Dijk sprayed one of those pinpoint 70 yard crossfield passes that was perfectly controlled by Eliott, who touched the ball to Alexander-Arnold, who exquisitely clipped the ball into the path of Mané on the edge of the Burnley area. This time the Senegalese striker made no mistake and he lashed the ball past Pope to put Liverpool two up.
It was a reminder of what Liverpool had missed from Van Dijk, in his second game back from long-term injury. The Dutchman was imperious in the air and on the ground, making an outstanding sliding tackle come block late on as substitute Jay Rodriguez looked to get off a shot that could have brought Burnley back into the game.
The Dutchman was ably assisted by Joel Matip, who had a flawless defensive performance and made telling contributions carrying the ball forward. Alexander-Arnold was at his attacking best, while Tsimikas – starting again for the injured Andy Robertson – did well going forward and defensively while his corners were always threatening. When he was replaced by Joe Gomez in injury time, the Greek left-back received a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd.
Allison Becker also looked back to his best, making one or two tremendous saves, and showed the old confidence with the ball at his feet and in his distribution.
Only some sloppy play from Thiago Alcantara, who came on for Keita on 81 minutes, a misplaced pass and a stray header, both of which led to Burnley chances were concerning, as everyone had hoped that the Spaniard had put behind him these awkward moments that characterised his early performances for Liverpool last season.
Next up for Liverpool is a home game against title rivals Chelsea, when we will be able to judge with more certainty if the Reds’ good start to the season is genuine cause for optimism or the results expected against two much weaker opponents, Norwich and Burnley.
