Jurgen Klopp's unseen moment said it all during Liverpool's win over Burnley

10 February 2024 , 18:26

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Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners against Burnley (Image: PA)

This was a day when the result was more important than the performance for Liverpool.

Yes, they won to get back on track after the disappointment of losing at Arsenal, but this display will not live long in the memory. Burnley might easily have left Anfield with more than just a hard-luck story and they missed two huge chances at 2-1.

The reaction from Jurgen Klopp when he turned to the crowd and punched the air when Darwin Nunez headed them 3-1 ahead 10 minutes from time said it all.

Liverpool were below their best and needed half-time substitute Harvey Elliott to lead them to victory when he laid on assists for Luis Diaz and Nunez.

Too many players had off days and it did not help that they lost Alisson and Joe Gomez to flu. But they won and passed their test of character, which was only heightened before kick-off when Manchester City temporarily replaced them at the top of the table.

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For Burnley it was a story of what might have been and they did well before James Trafford handed Liverpool their first goal. David Datro Fofana and Wilson Odobert also conspired to miss two fine openings and for Vincent Kompany this was a ninth visit to Anfield, as a City player and now Burnley manager, without winning.

Klopp challenged his Liverpool side to respond, claiming “we have a toolbox full of the right tools” and they struggled initially. Burnley threatened and Zenit Amdouni beat Virgil van Dijk, only for Caoimhin Kelleher to save his shot. Liverpool stirred in front of their biggest-ever league crowd of 59,896 and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones fired over.

Liverpool were gifted the lead by Trafford on 31 minutes when the Burnley goalkeeper made a mess of collecting Alexander-Arnold’s corner, colliding with his own player, and Diogo Jota was allowed the simplest of headers for his 14th goal of the season.

Darwin Nunez was on the scoresheet for Liverpool (PA)

The Reds put Burnley under increased pressure and Klopp was booked for protesting when Jota was not awarded a penalty when he was challenged by Hannes Delcroix.

Burnley survived and turned the game on its head just before half-time when Dara O’Shea scored with a thumping header from Josh Brownhill’s corner. Liverpool should have restored their lead when Jota’s weak header from Andy Robertson’s corner was saved by Trafford.

The Reds made no mistake on 52 minutes when Elliott crossed for Diaz to head home his ninth goal of the season after a lengthy check for offside by VAR. Kompany was booked for protesting and his mood would not have been helped when Burnley spurned two great chances.

First Fofana should have scored when he was clean through, only for Kelleher to save and Wilson Odobert blazed wide from the rebound. Fofana was presented with another chance when he was put through on the left and he planted his right-foot shot wide of the far post.

Back came Liverpool and Trafford saved well from Jota before Jarell Quansah volleyed just wide. The game was settled on 80 minutes when the busy Elliott crossed for Nunez to score his 12th goal of the season and one his efforts deserved.

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David Anderson