NO ChOKERs
LIVERPOOL .... 4 BURNLEY .... 2 SUPER SUNDAY ACTION Klopp tells City his side will fight to the death
WHEN a freaky and dodgy goal went against them early doors they could have choked.
When an added-time strike reduced their lead to the slimmest of margins they could have bottled it.
When Jurgen Klopp’s old chum, the wind, did its work with a vengeance they could have lost their rhythm.
Instead, Liverpool kept their composure and responded to the pressure with professional excellence.
It was never a breeze but it was the sort of riposte that should at least send a draught of pressure down the road to Manchester.
Forget the chat about tightening nerves on Merseyside, this is a team that is taking the title race down to the wire.
With Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane both netting twice – and Mohamed Salah a persistent danger – it was a reminder this attacking trio is capable of leading Liverpool to ultimate success.
For the slightly unexpected bonus look no further than the effervescent contribution of Adam Lallana who will now play a key part in the eight-game finale.
Even though Liverpool conceded their first Premier League goals in a month the defensive unit was also reassuringly solid.
Ashley Westwood’s opener, direct from a corner, can be excused as James Tarkowski was saddling up Kop keeper Alisson at the time.
Sub Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s late hit was decent and the product of one of the rare moments of defensive uncertainty.
In the vast expanse of time between the two Burnley strikes, Liverpool were generally dominant.
Granted, they had some assistance from rare shoddy rearguard work by Sean Dyche’s team, keeper Tom Heaton in particular.
First, he somehow failed to deal with a Salah cross from the right that eventually reached Firmino for a tap-in equaliser.
Then, after having no chance with Mane’s cool finish when Charlie Taylor’s challenge on Salah fell into the striker’s path, Heaton was culpable for Liverpool’s third.
He hooked a kick straight to Salah and when Taylor again intervened the outcome was familiar.
The ball fell to Firmino who finished with the outside of the right boot and an outsized smile. It was a breeze at that point but Gudmundsson’s cameo from the bench changed that for a moment or two in the closing stages.
The panic didn’t last long, however, as sub Daniel Sturridge sent a cute pass ahead of Mane who collected his second after going around a frazzled Heaton.
Cue the customary Klopp frenzy. He might claim the expectation and pressure isn’t getting to him but he seemed particularly fraught at times here.
Heaven knows what his mood must have been like when the galeforce numbers started appearing on the forecasts yesterday.
But the wind has not been put up his team.
This is a slick unit who have lost just once in 30 league matches this season. They can return to the top of the table with a victory at Fulham on Sunday and City’s game in hand is at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola’s team might well be odds-on with the bookmakers but this is a race that remains too tight to call.
There is little to choose between their fixture schedules and both squads still look strong.
While there might be the odd blip, the odd wobble, the odd hiccup, the chances of either choking look slim. JURGEN KLOPP praised Liverpool’s character after they blew Burnley away then warned Manchester City: “We’re not going away in the title race.”
The Anfield boss was furious as his side conceded an early goal to the Clarets when keeper Alisson was clearly impeded at a corner.
Yet they responded in style, with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane both scoring twice as the Reds marched to a 4-2 win.
And Klopp said: “The message of the day (in the title race) was: Nobody gets rid of us if we play as we played today. “Just do the job and that is what the boys did. We only have to make sure we stay in a really interesting competition at the top.
“We had the perfect mixture of fighting the opponent, fighting the circumstances and playing football. I liked it.”
Adam Lallana impressed on just his fourth league start while Mo Salah was a constant threat.
Both players have come under fire recently but Klopp said: “Mo was the best player on the pitch and didn’t score.
“With Adam this week it was clear – if he can play like he trains he will help us a lot and that is exactly how it happened.
“He is always good on the ball but he is a pretty aggressive boy as well. The counter press is a gamechanger. I’m really pleased for him and he deserves all the praise he got for that performance.” JURGEN KLOPP HAILS HIS TITLE-CHASING PLAYERS
ANDY DUNN AT ANFIELD