Liverpool did the honourable factor and picked up three factors from a doubtlessly sticky encounter with Burnley, with a lot of gamers coming away with credit score.
Liverpool 3-1 Burnley
Premier League (23), AnfieldFebruary 10, 2024
Targets: Jota 31′, Diaz 52′, Nunez 79′; O’Shea 45′
Sluggish begin
Liverpool had been in severe want of a response following the frustration of final weekend, and at first, it didn’t look as if we’d essentially get one.
Burnley grew in confidence as the primary interval wore on and had been good worth for his or her equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Vincent Kompany caught to his much-maligned ideas as his aspect regarded to trigger us issues, however they had been equally able to stifling Liverpool as they regarded to carve out openings early on.
In the end, Burnley are already making ready for all times within the Championship, however the Reds made them look greater than satisfactory once they didn’t significantly must.
Forwards nonetheless firing in Mo’s absence
Mohamed Salah hasn’t pulled on a Liverpool shirt since New Yr’s Day, however Jurgen Klopp‘s attacking gamers haven’t let him down within the meantime.
Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez all obtained on the scoresheet and that’s now 22 objectives in eight video games for the reason that Egyptian has been away.
One can solely assume Salah appears like a caged animal in the mean time, making the entrance three a daunting prospect when he might be added again in.
Elliott shines off the bench once more
Quietly, Harvey Elliott is having a vastly spectacular season regardless of having been predominantly utilised as a squad participant for almost all to this point.
The 20-year-old was launched for the still-returning Trent Alexander-Arnold on the interval and was concerned in all the pieces constructive the Reds produced going ahead.
Many will rightly level out that he deserves extra begins, however the competitors for locations and his capability to make such an instantaneous affect off the bench makes him a perfect candidate when adjustments must be made.
With Dominik Szoboszlai set to be out for the following few weeks, it will be no shock if Elliott is knocking on the supervisor’s workplace door subsequent week.
Struggling on the damage entrance
Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s withdrawal on the break – having been a pre-planned substitute on the Emirates – was an comprehensible trigger for concern amongst supporters.
He was maybe pressured to prematurely return to the beginning XI in opposition to Arsenal as a result of absence of Conor Bradley.
However counting on Curtis Jones to fill in at right-back for 45 minutes wasn’t a perfect answer for a aspect making a title push in February.
Klopp doesn’t appear to suppose it’s a severe situation, so we will have to attend and see how that develops.
Issues had been wanting up on the health entrance in latest weeks, however the rigours of competing in 4 competitions seem like displaying and we may do with getting a bit extra luck within the coming months.
Endo restores midfield steadiness
The return of Wataru Endo from the Asian Cup posed a lot of questions concerning the rapid way forward for the midfield.
Alexis Mac Allister has been imperious within the No. 6 place whereas the Japan captain was away in Qatar, however the truth Endo slotted straight again in exhibits the regard during which he’s held by the supervisor.
As an alternative, Mac Allister was given the liberty to specific himself additional up the pitch and the World Cup winner regarded in his factor as a extra conventional centre-midfielder.
Klopp has choices at his disposal and that may solely enhance when Szoboszlai makes his full return.
