KLOPP PUTS THE BOOT IN!
Liverpool manager upset at Burnley’s physical approach but delights in victory for returning fans at Anfield
THERE was a morning deluge at Anfield but lightning did not strike twice. Burnley failed to repeat their historic win of January as excellent goals in each half from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane accompanied the return of Liverpool fans to their spiritual home.
Burnley, who ended Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield on their last visit, started as crisply as their white strip with their lineup bearing numbers one to 11 — just like the old days.
But Liverpool, roared on by 54,000 for the first time in 18 months, got better the longer the game continued and should have won by more despite Burnley’s rugged tactics later, which were likened to ‘wrestling’ by Jurgen Klopp.
Jota continued his scoring run with a bullet header from an equally fine delivery from Kostas Tsimikas after 18 minutes. Although a few nervy moments followed, Mane sealed the points after 69 minutes and other chances went begging.
Other bonuses for Klopp included 18-year-old Harvey Elliott impressing on his first Premier League start and the continuing comeback of Virgil van Dijk, who looked to be his commanding self in the physical battle against Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes.
Skipper Jordan Henderson also started following an injury-blighted season and added composure to midfield to underline why Liverpool are in talks over a new contract for their leader.
Symbolically, it was also Henderson who laid a wreath in front of the supporters before kickoff to mourn the passing of a 97th Hillsborough victim, Andrew Devine.
‘Everyone was looking forward to this game, to this football fest and I don’t think anyone left disappointed,’ said Klopp, his team having won their opening two games without conceding a goal.
‘It was a really special atmosphere. I understand why everyone will want to talk about Harvey because he’s only 18 but the way he played didn’t surprise me, that is how he has been in the last six weeks after coming back from loan at Blackburn.’
Burnley are still looking for their first point. They started brightly but only roused Liverpool when Wood forced Alisson into the first save of the game.
The home side took the lead when Sadio Mane fed Tsimikas, deputising for Andy Robertson, on the left. The Greek full-back whipped in a great first-time delivery that Jota met with a brilliant header after getting clear of James Tarkowski.
It was the Portuguese forward’s second goal in consecutive games and justified why Klopp is starting him ahead of Roberto Firmino.
The breakthrough opened things up. Dwight McNeil tested Alisson with a strike to the near post while Nick Pope tipped a Mo Salah shot around the post.
Salah thought he had scored after 26 minutes. Elliott slipped him clear with a cute pass that the Egyptian finished first-time, only for VAR to rule out for offside after the celebrations.
Trent Alexander-Arnold tried to make amends with a chipped pass that Mane met on the volley but put over the bar. Salah’s curler then struck Ben Mee when heading into the top corner. Alisson’s blushes were spared on the stroke of halftime when Tarkowski beat him in the air but headed high.
Liverpool took time to get into their stride after the restart with Pope not called into action until the 56th minute when he gathered from Mane. From there, the pressure cranked up.
Van Dijk volleyed AlexanderArnold’s corner a few inches beyond the far post. Some fancy footwoork from Salah in the box then led to a last-ditch block from McNeil and Pope deflected Mane’s strike for a corner with his boot.
The second goal finally arrived after 69 minutes. The peerless Van Dijk started the move with a beautiful, sweeping pass to the right. From there Alexander-Arnold played a sublime curling pass into Mane, who buried the opportunity with glee inside the box.
Anfield was at last able to relax and Liverpool used the cheers to go searching for more. From one corner, Van Dijk and Joel Matip were both denied by stout Burnley defending and Tsimikas delivered another pearler which Matip nodded wide. Salah put Charlie Taylor on his backside with a quick swivel before his curled attempt finished just beyond the far post.
Those fans who had been unable to see Liverpool in the flesh since they won the championship two seasons ago lapped it up. Nobody left their seat at the final whistle as a beaming Klopp — no longer wearing his trademark glasses — walked to the centre circle to applaud all four sides of the ground.
Sean Dyche, who has again been given a restricted budget despite Burnley getting new owners, said: ‘The performance was pleasing, but not the result. It as a tough day to come here with the energy and feeling of the crowd.
‘We are short of numbers. It has been life at Burnley, it has always been a challenge. There is a financial situation that is more openminded but we’ll see. The model is what it is, the new ownership won’t rip it up.’
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas (Gomez 90min); Elliott, Henderson, Keita (Thiago 81); Salah, Jota (Firmino 81), Mane. Subs
(not used): Adrian (Gk), Kelleher (Gk), Konate, Robertson, Jones, Minamino. BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson (Pieters 80), Brownhill, Cork, McNeil; Wood (Rodriguez 75), Barnes. Subs (not used): Hennessey, Bardsley, Collins, Norris, Thomas, Richardson, Dodgson. Referee: M Dean (Wirral).