Burnley 1-3 Liverpool - The Reds make the best ever start to a league campaign in their history - Match Review
In my preview post ahead of the game I said that it was anyone's guess what starting lineup we'd see Jurgen Klopp go with for this one and he made full use of his squad by making 7 changes. Joe Gomez moved over to play at right-back in place of Trent Alexander Arnold with Joel Matip taking his place alongside Van Dijk and Alberto Moreno came in to cover for Andy Robertson who picked up a dead leg in the last game. Naby Keita joined James Milner and Jordan Henderson in midfield with the side set up in a 4-3-3 formation and Klopp shocked everyone by naming a front 3 that didn't include any of his big guns. Instead, Shaqiri and Sturridge joined the hero from Sunday Divock Origi making it the first time since May 2017 that Liverpool had started a league game without either Salah, Mane or Firmino in the attack.
Liverpool were dealt an early blow when Joe Gomez went down from a challenge after getting forward down the right side of the pitch, it did not look like a bad challenge but he stayed down in clear agony and had to come off on a stretcher. It has since been revealed he suffered a fracture to his lower leg and will now be out for 6 weeks. Gomez has been in great form in whatever position he has been used in so far this season and will be a major loss, especially over the festive period, the only blessing for Liverpool is that right-back and centre back are the areas they have the most cover for. Following the injury, it was a pretty dull first 45 minutes of football with few clear-cut chances for either side. Naby Keita looked good and seemed to be the most likely player to make something happen for Liverpool but it was actually Burnley who got the ball in the back of the net when Barnes volleyed in a ball following a free-kick. Liverpool had defended with a really high line and while extremely risky as it leaves loads of space for players to get a good run on the ball it paid off as the linesman waved his flag to rule out the goal for offside meaning the half came to a close with the score unchanged at 0-0.
Klopp altered the system and Liverpool started the 2nd half in a 4-4-2 formation with Origi and Sturridge up front with Milner taking up the left midfield role and Shaqiri playing down the right. It seemed to work as Liverpool started strong with Sturridge coming close to scoring and then Keita nearly getting in a couple of minutes later with a shot to the top corner, both were denied by Joe Hart. Minutes after Keita's attempt Burnley won a corner and took the lead. Tarkowski headed the ball towards goal and Wood stuck out a foot as Alisson stuck out a hand to stop it going in, he couldn't quite seem to gather it though as Cork reacted and poked it into the back of the net to give Burnley a surprise lead and sent the home fans wild. There was little more Alisson could do and replays show that there may be a case for the goal being ruled out. Wood was in an offside position as he swung his kick at the ball and although he didn't make contact it did cause Alisson to react meaning he affected the play. There is also the case that Alisson had the ball with both hands as Cook kicked it from under him which is against the rules, however, neither was spotted by the officials and the goal was able to stand.
The goal was a big blow, if Liverpool lost this game they would be 5 points behind City and so needed to get back into it quickly. Fortunately, that is what they were able to do after some play between Moreno and Keita the ball was moved on to Origi in the box. There was little space for him to move it forward so he passed it back to Milner outside the box and the veteran took a touch before unleashing a low shot along the grass and straight into the bottom right corner of the goal. Joe Hart was unable to react to it and Liverpool were back on level terms with the score now 1-1. It was a superbly taken goal from Milner and he was rewarded by Klopp by having to change his position for the 3rd time of the game. Klopp reacted to getting back to 1-1 by bringing on his big guns with Salah coming on for Moreno, with Milner moving to left-back and Origi coming off for Firmino. It was unfortunate Origi could not extend his goal run after scoring the winner against Everton but he did play a part in Milner's equaliser and did enough to suggest he could be involved in the future.
Bringing on the big guns made an instant impact as Roberto Firmino was on the mark to score with his first touch just minutes after coming onto the pitch. Trent Alexander Arnold sent the ball in with a brilliant cross from a free-kick and it was met by Virgil van Dijk at the back post, he played it back across goal where Firmino was ready and waiting to tap the ball in and give Liverpool the lead. After watching his side go from a goal up to then being a goal down in a matter of minutes Sean Dyche made a double change bringing on Vokes and Lennon in place of Wood and Brady. The changes were a clear indication that Burnley were going to go for it in the final 20 minutes as they sit in the relegation zone desperate for some points. Burnley going for it made the game much more open than it had been for the previous 70 minutes or so and Liverpool started to get more opportunities. Shaqiri and Milner linked up well down the left while Salah almost put Sturridge through but he was flagged offside. With 10 minutes left Liverpool had the chance to grab a third when Keita forced a save from Hart who was also able to stop Salah's close-range shot immediately after. It was cleared only as far as Henderson who struck a low shot that was almost back-heeled in by Naby Keita but his inventive attempt was blocked and the ball went out for a corner.
Burnley managed to survive the manic few minutes and were almost rewarded late on when they were awarded a corner which was nodded around the box a couple of times before Mee directed the ball towards the top corner, it looked like it may have been going in but was stopped by Alisson who managed to claw the ball away. The Brazillian played the ball out to Sturridge deep in his own half and the striker played a chipped pass over to Mo Salah who'd made a run forward down the right wing. The Egyptian looked and saw Xerdan Shaqiri in acres of space in the middle and played a similar chipped pass over towards him. Shaqiri took a touch to bring the ball under control and then fired it into the back of the net putting Liverpool in the clear with a 1-3 lead.
It was by no means the greatest comeback in the clubs rich history but it was a massively important one as they remain unbeaten in the league after 15 games making it the clubs greatest ever start to a league campaign. Liverpool remains 2nd and 2 points behind Manchester City but do have the chance to jump to 1st on Saturday when they meet Bournemouth in the early kick-off.
Their winning the games against the minnows these days where they would of got beaten this time last year. Funny team he put out though and the score did not reflect the game .
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Yeah, I feel like 6-7 of the games they have won this season were games they'd have lost or drawn in previous seasons. It was an interesting lineup, didn't think he'd leave out both of Salah and Firmino and I am always worried when Sturridge starts. Hoping they can keep pulling it off for the rest of the season too.