Liverpool 4 - 2 Burnley Liverpool: Firmino 19’ & 67’, Mane 29’ & 90+3’ Burnley: Westwood 6’, Gudmundsson 90+1 Pre-Match: Adam Lallana apparently trained better than Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita this week to earn himself a starting position today so here we are. Noon against Burnley with basically the League title on the line. Let’s go Reds. apparently trained better than and Naby Keita this week to earn himself a starting position today so here we are. Noon against Burnley with basically the League title on the line. Let’s go Reds. And off we go! Things are starting a bit nervy here at Anfield on Sunday but Lallana is back to his busiest and hasn’t gotten injured... although there’s still 85ish minutes left. Goal. Burnley score straight from a corner by basically sandwiching Alisson to keep him from doing his job but that’s nothing, apparently! Time to play with some anger, boys! We all knew Burnley would do their worst, considering it’s March and Joe Gomez is still injured from the last time we met them, but this is a wild way to start. is still injured from the last time we met them, but this is a wild way to start. Roberto Firmino goes close to equalizing, SO PAINFULLY CLOSE, but Tarkowski gets a block on it and his shot goes skyward. Liverpool look like they’re settling into the game and hopefully about to pull Burnley apart because fuck them. goes close to equalizing, SO PAINFULLY CLOSE, but Tarkowski gets a block on it and his shot goes skyward. Liverpool look like they’re settling into the game and hopefully about to pull Burnley apart because fuck them. GOAL! BOBBY COMES THROUGH WITH THE EQUALIZER! Mohamed Salah controls the ball well and sneaks it through the Burnley defense for Bobby Dazzler to just tap in and Liverpool are level! controls the ball well and sneaks it through the Burnley defense for Bobby Dazzler to just tap in and Liverpool are level! Holy Toledo, it’s actually hailing at Anfield right now. Legitimately pea sized hail falling from the sky. GOAL! Lallana doing his busiest to win the ball back for Salah and Salah chipping it to Sadio Mane to make it two! We’re not about to be afraid of Burnley anymore, but we can’t rest on that lead right now. The conditions at Anfield, though, are truly wild. The wind is so bad I half expect one of our smaller players to get picked up and carried away. Halftime: Liverpool definitely responded well to going down early, but things could get dicey really quick and we need to maintain this kind of gameplay to get out alive. Liverpool definitely responded well to going down early, but things could get dicey really quick and we need to maintain this kind of gameplay to get out alive. We’re back out there! The hail has cleared up, we’ll see if the wind has died down and Adam Lallana is still out there and doing great (listen, he deserves some credit). Nearly three! Burnley give our front three all the space in the world to do what they do but literally the wind pushes the ball away from the goal after Bobby gets a cross in. This is a good match for Klopp to complain about the wind. Credit to the fans, at least on my stream it sounds like Anfield is in full voice just when the team needs them the most. This half is definitely less eventful than the first one but Liverpool have played consistently in the Burnley half so a third is absolutely on the way. GOAL! Bobby gets a brace to make it three! Mohamed Salah gets tackled, again, in the box, and Bobby is there to pick up the slack and send it home! Celebrated with a Hendo hop and everything!! ! Mohamed Salah gets tackled, again, in the box, and Bobby is there to pick up the slack and send it home! Celebrated with a Hendo hop and everything!!! Jordan Henderson comes on for Georginio Wijnaldum for some fresh legs and honestly it’s a safety substitution but we’re going to be better for it. comes on for for some fresh legs and honestly it’s a safety substitution but we’re going to be better for it. Everyone might say “Oh it’s just Burnley” after this game but Liverpool have been back to their sharpest and it’s the best kind of pick me up. With Fulham ahead and City playing in the FA Cup, we’ve got a chance, lads!! ! I’m putting it on the record - I HATE SHORT CORNERS AND THEY NEVER WORK. STOP DOING THEM. Adam Lallana makes way for Naby Keita and while that’s the choice most would’ve made at the start, Lallana has had a great game and should be recognized for it. Literally everyone is taking their shot right now and it’s awesome. Mane should’ve made a fourth a bit after Keita came on and Andy Robertson just had a rocket blocked. Wave after wave of Liverpool attack and it’s soothing, honestly. Oh. Goal for Burnley. Great. That’s what I get, I guess. GOAL! GO AWAY BURNLEY! MANE FINDS HIS FOURTH! Final Whistle: I’m not about to say it’s just Burnley because they always give us hell and this was their perfect chance, but to get out of this alive and with two more goals towards the GD feels great. Roll on Bayern. We’ll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today’s game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven’t already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we’ll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.<doc-sep>Liverpool bounced back from a goal down early on to beat Burnley 4-2 on Sunday, with a couple of stand-out performances helping to take the Reds back to within a point of Man City at the top of the Premier League. With the reigning champions once again playing earlier than the Reds, and winning, it was vital that Jurgen Klopp‘s men rediscovered winning form. Four points separated the Reds and City at kick-off—and there may have been early fears that this would remain the case, after a helping hand from the officials gifted Burnley the lead. Liverpool have been far more offensive-minded and dangerous on home soil of late, though, and that again proved to be the case as Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino both notched a brace apiece. Even a late scare couldn’t prevent the Reds taking all three points and moving back to within one of City and there’s plenty of reason to hope such performances continue. Here we compare our player ratings with those from the Liverpool Echo, the Mirror, the Independent, Sky Sports, ESPN, FotMob and the This Is Anfield readers. Unsurprisingly, the two front men who bagged a brace apiece were notable for their high average ratings, with Sadio Mane (8.2) edging out Roberto Firmino (8.1) as the Reds’ best performer. Mane earned the single highest rating by a writer for any player on the day, with his solitary nine out of 10 coming from ESPN’s Glenn Price, who suggested the forward is “earning himself a reputation as a clinical goalscorer.” By contrast, the Mirror‘s Andy Dunn thought it was “not [Mane’s] busiest game” and awarded only a seven, despite noting his great strikes. Firmino in turn hit a couple of well-timed goals, initially equalising for the Reds and later putting them 3-1 up, earning him eight-ratings almost across the board. TIA’s Joel Rabinowitz spoke of Firmino’s “positive link-up play” and his “smart anticipation”, with movement as much as finishing seeing the Brazilian hit his two goals. At the other end of the pitch, another imperious display from Virgil van Dijk (7.4) earned him more impressive reviews, with the Echo‘s Ian Doyle highlighting the Dutchman’s aerial dominance. Rarely is Van Dijk beaten in the air, but it was particularly impressive against a two-pronged Burnley forward line noted for their height, power and direct approach to helping build attacks. However, it was the midfield performance of the returning Adam Lallana (7.5) which was perhaps the most talked-about aspect of the Reds’ display, with his average score just seeing him edge Van Dijk into Liverpool’s third-best performer on the day. Doyle claimed Lallana’s performance was “just like the old days, leading the press” while Dunn claimed the midfielder was “back to his effervescent self.” Whether or not he deserved the man of the match award handed to him by British TV, Rabinowitz makes the point that Lallana “can make an important contribution” for Liverpool across what remains of the season. There were a couple of below-par displays too, however. Trent Alexander-Arnold (6.0) and Joel Matip (6.0) picked up the lowest average scores, with both also receiving five out of 10 ratings from the Independent‘s Mark Critchley. Mohamed Salah (6.6) seemed to be the most divisive figure on the day, picking up as low as 5.1 from the stat-based app FotMob, yet an eight from the Echo and the post-game praise of Jurgen Klopp. The boss will hope that hitting the goal trail will bode well for the midweek trip back to his homeland, as Liverpool next take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Another similar performance from the Reds in front of goal and the European adventure could yet go on a while.<doc-sep>Liverpool fought back from a goal behind to secure a 4-2 win over Burnley on Sunday, but another controversial decision VAR emerged as a major talking point. After a draw last time out in the Merseyside derby, a win was non-negotiable for the Reds on Sunday as they looked to keep within striking distance of Manchester City. An early goal for Burnley, which shouldn’t have stood, put Liverpool temporarily on the back foot. But there was no panic from the home side and two goals for both Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane either side of half time swung the game in Liverpool’s favour and ensured all three points remained at Anfield. The victory means Jurgen Klopp’s side remain one point behind City with eight games remaining. On hand to breakdown the positives and negatives from Liverpool’s win and discuss everything VAR were This Is Anfield’s Joanna Durkan (@JoannaDurkan_), Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) and Jeff Goulding (@ShanklysBoys1). The good… Joel: The way Liverpool responded to the set back of Burnley‘s early goal and the unfair circumstances of it was really pleasing. Given the constant extreme pressure of the title race and all the media narrative about Liverpool struggling to cope with it, this was a great show of mental resilience to hit back with two goals before the half hour mark. Adam Lallana deserves credit for his performance, especially in the first half, where his pressing created the opening for Mane’s first goal- he repaid Klopp’s faith in selecting him. Mane, I thought, was the standout performer once again and took both his goals brilliantly. He’s been Liverpool’s most influential attacker for some weeks now. Jeff: The important thing for me is the win. We went into that game under immense pressure and I was nervous, but Liverpool dealt with that. The key thing is that the Reds didn’t wilt. Going in ahead at half time 2-1 up was crucial. Overall it was a great response yet again though and Mane is in contention for golden boot now. He’s been immense recently. Joanna: For me the most pleasing aspect of the game was Liverpool’s ability to pick through a Burnley side intent on frustrating us by any means possible, especially after going behind in controversial circumstances so early on, like Joel mentioned. We rarely looked troubled and the fluidity which was absent against Everton had returned, meaning there were a number of standout performances across the park. Virgil van Dijk was as glorious as ever, Mane cannot be stopped at the moment and Mohamed Salah was crucial to victory despite failing to notch an assist or goal having comfortably got the measure of Ben Mee all afternoon. Roberto Firmino had one of his best games in recent times and it felt like he had covered every blade of grass, very deserving of his two goals and the adulation from the Anfield faithful – the pick of the bunch for me. But I must also give Lallana credit for his performance, mostly in the first half – he certainly made me eat my words and I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that! The bad… Joel: There’s not a huge amount to criticise about Liverpool’s performance, although Joel Matip certainly didn’t need to head the ball out of play for the corner which Burnley then scored from. That said, the fact Andre Marriner somehow failed to spot and punish James Tarkowski’s clear foul on Alisson was ridiculous. The goal should never have stood, and while we’ve seen some dreadful decisions at Anfield in particular this season, this was right up there with the worst. Jeff: From where I sat, the referee got a few things wrong. The first goal was a travesty and why is Alisson getting booked for protesting? If he’s an outfield player that doesn’t happen. The ref went for his card too early there. On the atmosphere, I thought it was decent but it definitely got nervy when Burnley got their second goal. Joanna: The negatives mostly have nothing to do with Liverpool’s performance itself but rather the referee, Burnley‘s time wasting antics and the indecisive weather which was sunny one minute and then cold and windy the next – spring can’t come soon enough. It’s safe to say the referee did not have a good game and rightly received sarcastic applause from the crowd when he finally ruled in Liverpool’s favour. For the Reds specifically, however, I thought Matip was the weak link in an otherwise assured performance from Klopp’s men. He was slightly off the pace and got pushed under the ball too often for my liking, and his poor decision led him to needlessly heading the ball out for a corner under no pressure for Burnley‘s opener. As Jeff said, the atmosphere was alright throughout but after Burnley got their second goal an instant wave of tension swept over the crowd. And considering the controversial nature of Burnley’s opener, are you for or against the introduction of VAR… Joel: I’ve always been pretty vocal in my support for VAR, and the Burnley goal demonstrated exactly why I think it needs to be brought in to the Premier League. It only takes a matter of seconds for the referee to review the incident and be able to spot the blatant infringement on the goalkeeper and disallow the goal. Liverpool did well to make sure it didn’t influence the result in the end, but moments like that can often define matches. Yes, it isn’t perfect and there are situations (e.g. Man United‘s penalty vs PSG) where the decision is still ambiguous even after consulting VAR. Ultimately, though, it allows referees to make better-informed decisions and I think as it becomes more mainstream it’ll become much quicker and significantly reduce the number of refereeing errors. Jeff: In terms of the first goal, I’m still opposed to VAR. Those things happen in football. I just don’t think it adds anything and instead disrupts game too much in my view. The referee should be able to get that right nine times out of 10 in my view. Joanna: I can understand all sides of the debate surrounding VAR and while I have previously had some reservations over it, like the untimely disruption Jeff mentioned, but if it eliminates clear and obvious errors its introduction can only be a good thing. Thankfully for Liverpool the Burnley goal did not affect the final result but it was again another instance of poor refereeing which had an opportunity to alter the course of the game. It definitely needs fine tuning such is the subjective nature of football, beyond offside calls, but if the amount of errors can be reduced than the game will be better for it – especially in a sport where the stakes are so high for each and every team.<doc-sep>
Liverpool 4 - 2 Burnley Liverpool: Firmino 19’ & 67’, Mane 29’ & 90+3’ Burnley: Westwood 6’, Gudmundsson 90+1 Liverpool have sputtered slightly in recent matches when they’ve had to take their show on the road, but Anfield continues to offer an opportunity to feast on the home cooking which will hopefully sustain the Reds’ title challenge. They will need that trend to persist if Klopp’s squad is to gain an edge on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Some potentially tricky fixtures remain on the horizon when Tottenham and Chelsea make their visits to Merseyside. But today, the focus was completely on Sean Dyche’s Burnley side, and for the most part, that focus was apparent. Always awkward customers, with enough physicality to make things uncomfortable for more fluid opponents, Burnley are in a difficult position - flirting with the relegation zone with precious few matches remaining on the schedule in which to secure safety. It had all the makings of a frustrating day at the office, and things certainly started out in unpleasant fashion for Jürgen Klopp. Already struggling to get used to blustery conditions, Joël Matip conceded a corner perhaps a touch too easily, and Alisson might have gotten to the resulting ball had he not been smothered and held down by an opposing player. Into the goal it went, while Liverpool’s players remonstrated to no avail. They’ve not always been able to flip the switch as quickly as the home crowd would like, but Liverpool did so today. They were aided by a resurgent Adam Lallana - a surprise inclusion to the starting XI - who seemed intent on turning back the clock. The midfielder has never been shy about his pressing duties, but that eagerness was married to a sharper sense of timing and decisionmaking today, which caused problems for Burnley throughout the half. 15 minutes into the match, Liverpool were growing in confidence despite being a goal down. A great ball from Matip found Salah while Burnley were light in numbers at the back. Salah rolled it out to Firmino, whose shot was deflected out for a corner, from which nothing of note resulted. But it did signal a growing threat from the hosts. A few minutes later, Liverpool rolled forward again. This time, Salah raced at lightspeed to the touchline, drifting past defenders via a give-and-go with Mané before teeing up Roberto Firmino for a tap-in at point blank range. Parity was restored, but Liverpool were in no mood to take their foot off the pedal. Just as Liverpool turned up the energy, so did the weather. Wind, rain, sleet, hail - it all seemed to be on offer at Anfield, as though an impatient Mother Nature were rapidly pressing the buttons on her remote, looking for the right channel. No locusts turned up, but there were at least more goals. This time, Burnley attempted to play the ball out from the back while in heavy traffic. It proved to be a poor decision, as a lunging Lallana was able to get a foot onto a clearance, sending the ball looping back to Salah. With defenders closing in on the Egyptian forward, the ball ping-ponged its way to Mané, who curled it perfectly past Heaton. Anfield erupted in relief and joy, while Dyche found yet another reason to bellow at the officials. At times this season, Liverpool have been guilty of letting the interval disrupt their momentum, but they kept up their tempo this afternoon. Despite his prolonged absence from the starting picture, Lallana still found a way to be ubiquitous, winning balls back while offering up a healthy dose of forward momentum in possession. The most direct beneficiaries were the front three, who nearly crafted another goal minutes after the break with excellent interplay, before the wind seemed to turn Firmino’s cross into a half-shot past the post. A third goal was coming, and it materialized in the 67th minute. An awful goal kick from Heaton saw the ball end up straight at Salah, who had a clear path to goal. A last ditch lunge took the ball away from Salah’s feet, but only as far as Firmino, who converted his second point-blank opportunity of the day. The three points were now well within sight, and could have been locked down earlier had Mané not somehow contrived to send a bullet cross from Alexander-Arnold over the bar from close range.