Liverpool CAN win ugly
Jurgen purrs as Reds play ‘adult football’ to master wretched conditions
THeSe are the days Jurgen Klopp values more than most. A solitary goal, a clean sheet and three points secured in wretched conditions — it was football stripped back to basics and the Liverpool manager’s delight was impossible to contain.
‘Wow,’ said Klopp, after his team had chipped back into Manchester City’s lead at the top. ‘Adult football was needed. everything was set up to be a banana skin.’
No medals will be handed out for winning at Turf Moor but the importance of this victory, secured by Fabinho’s fifth strike in his last seven appearances, means Liverpool remain firmly in the hunt for when title medals are handed out in May.
Klopp ‘absolutely loves’ the scoreline 1-0 and that fact summed up the way this game went. Liverpool struggled to find moments of magic while Burnley huffed and puffed and were short of quality.
Put all that together and there was never any chance that this would be remembered as a Premier League classic but the way in which Liverpool ground this victory out — their sixth in a row — could have long-term implications as they keep up their pursuit of City.
Perhaps things may have been different if Burnley had been able to score. Spirit and commitment are never in short supply here but goals are and that is what matters. Four in all competitions from the start of December is a horrible statistic and the reason that their position in this division is increasingly parlous.
They had plenty of opportunities in the opening period to change things. A team with an assassin up front might even have delivered a huge blow to Liverpool’s title ambitions, such were the quality of the moments that came Burnley’s way. After Josh
Brownhill’s 25-yard shot had forced a fine save from Alisson in the 14th minute, Wout Weghorst failed to hit the target twice when he galloped away from Liverpool’s defence and Jay Rodriguez was denied when the goalkeeper quickly smothered him.
each opportunity left Sean Dyche barking in dismay but never more so than after Weghorst’s second failure. He had been sent through by a ball from Connor Roberts but he shanked his effort wide.
Liverpool lacked pizzazz and their play was as squally as the rain that shrouded the South Pennine hills that overlook this venue. But they had too much ability on the pitch for it to persist. All they wanted was an opening and it came in the 40th minute.
The wind was blowing to such an extent that Trent AlexanderArnold had difficultly spotting the ball to take a corner but he managed to pick out Sadio Mane, whose glancing header found Fabinho in the six-yard box. The Brazilian bundled the ball in at the second attempt.
It was scruffy but the importance of the moment was illustrated by the way Klopp celebrated, charging out of his technical area along with substitutes Kostas Tsimikas and Thiago — who almost went on to the pitch in delight. every action means something in a title race of this nature.
The timing of the goal could have left Burnley deflated but, belligerently, they tried to ask questions again of Liverpool in the second half. The trouble was they never got into positions to really profit. The other factor, of course, was the performances of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip.
Van Dijk, in particular, is at his peak again and to be at such a level is testament to how hard he has worked. There was never any guarantee he would get back to this standard given the catastrophic nature of the injury he sustained.
As Burnley prodded, Van Dijk glided across the pitch and brought calm with an immaculately timed foot in here or a header there. Nothing ever flusters him and that composure was crucial in helping Liverpool see out the contest.
Liverpool might have added to their tally but, too often, the final ball was off target or a promising move broke down and none of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Mane or Diogo Jota will look back on this match with affection.
For the away fans in the Barnfield Construction Stand, however, there was no reason for complaint. There will be a time down the road when they will cut loose and unleash their attacking fury but, every now and again, it is just as a rewarding to win scruffily. This was one such occasion. BURNLEY (4-4-2) Pope 7; Roberts 6, Mee 6, Tarkowski 6, Pieters 6; Lennon 5, Brownhill 6, Westwood 6, Cornet 5; Weghorst 6 (Barnes 75min, 5), Rodriguez 5 (McNeil 62, 6). Booked: None. Manager: Sean Dyche 6. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3) Alisson 8; Alexander-Arnold 7, VAN DIJK 8.5, Matip 8, Robertson 7; Henderson 6 (Thiago 59, 6), Fabinho 8, Keita 7 (Milner 90); Salah 6, Firmino 5, Mane 6 (Jota 67, 6). Scorer: Fabinho 40. Booked: Henderson. Manager: Jurgen Klopp 7. Referee: Martin Atkinson 6.