Liverpool had to struggle to secure a 1-0 victory at home to Burnley. The Reds’ winning goal was made by Fabinho.
In the 25th week match which was held at Turf Moor, Sunday (13/2/2022) night WIB, Liverpool were in trouble even though they controlled 67 percent of ball possession and made 12 attempts, four on target.
Burnley could even make five shots on target. Fabinho’s goal in the 42nd minute became the difference between the two teams’ fate.
The addition of three points makes Liverpool firmly in second place in the standings with 54 points, a difference of nine points from Manchester City at the top, and has one game remaining.
Burnley are still stuck at the bottom with 14 points.
The game Burnley vs Liverpool
Liverpool immediately started playing Sadio Mane, who just returned from the Senegal national team three days ago, on the front lines with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Burnley tried to press Liverpool from the early minutes and troubled the defense that was escorted by Virgil van Dijk. Burnley became the first to score a shot on target in this match.
In the 16th minute, Josh Brownhill fired home from 30 yards that forced Alisson Becker to fly past him for a corner.
Two minutes later, it was Maxwell Cornett’s turn to threaten with a right-footed shot from close range, but Alisson was able to block it.
In the 21st minute Naby Keita had a chance to bring Liverpool ahead, but his shot was blocked by Nick Pope.
A minute later Wout Weghorst escaped the offside trap and were only to face Alisson, but his shot was still flying.
Liverpool are really under Burnley pressure and force the ball to be passed a lot to the back line or Alisson Becker.
Even in the 33rd minute Alisson was forced out of the nest to snatch the ball from Jay Rodriguez.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 40th minute and Liverpool scored their first goal. Starting with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner, Mane headed the ball at the near post and Fabinho met it with a close-range effort.
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Fabinho found the net for Burnley from close range. Photo: Getty Images/Gareth Copley
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The ball was parried by Nick Pope, but Fabinho quickly found the ball gag to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead.
Burnley still troubled Liverpool in the second half for their efforts to find goals. Burnley had a chance in the 51st minute when Ben Mee headed home a corner but it was wide.
There was also Weghorst’s hard shot from outside the penalty box in the 62nd minute which Alisson could easily secure.
Liverpool are still having trouble adding goals because of the tight defense of Burnley. The entry of Diogo Jota to replace Mane has not changed his team’s game.
 Sadio Mane replaced by Diogo Jota Photo: AP/Jon Super |
Liverpool almost added a goal in the 80th minute when Ben Mee tried to clear Trent’s cross from the left and the ball headed into the net. Luckily for Mee, the ball went wide.
Five minutes later, Salah stabbed in from the right side of the Burnley defense on the counter-attack. However, his pass to Jota could still be blocked by James Tarkowski.
Until the Burnley vs Liverpool duel was over, the 1-0 score remained for the visitors’ victory.
Lineup
Burnley: Nick Pope; Connor Roberts, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Erik Pieters; Aaron Lennon, Ashley Westwood, Josh Brownhill, Maxwel Cornet; Jay Rodriguez (Dwight McNeil 62′), Wout Weghorst (Ashley Barnes 75′).
Liverpool: Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson (Thiago 59′), Fabinho, Naby Keita; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane (Diogo Jota 67′).
(mrp/adp)
