Burnley 0-3 Liverpool - Premier League - 19/05/21 - Match report/review

LIVERPOOL CRUISE INTO TOP FOUR WITH TEXTBOOK AWAY PERFORMANCE

 Teams

Burnley (4-3-3) - Norris / Lowton, Mee, Tarkowski, Taylor / Brownhill, Cork (Vydra 76'), Westwood / Gudmundsson, Wood, McNeil

Unused Subs - Peacock-Farrell (GK), Barnes, Rodriguez, Pieters, Nartey, Dunne, Richardson, Driscoll-Glennon

Liverpool (4-3-3) - Alisson / Alexander-Arnold, R.Williams, Phillips, Robertson / Fabinho, Thiago, Wijnaldum (Milner 86') / Mane (Tsimikas 90+2'), Firmino (Oxlade-Chamberlain 81'), Salah

Unused Subs - Adrian (GK), Jones, Shaqiri, Origi, N.Williams, Koumetio

Liverpool's top four chances were given a massive boost as they picked up a valuable three points at Burnley on Wednesday night. Goals from Roberto Firmino, Nat Phillips and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rounded off a relatively comfortable evening as the visitors controlled a rather entertaining affair that saw the return of 3,000 fans to Turf Moor.

Whilst having nothing to play for, Sean Dyche's men will have wanted to finish their home campaign strongly, and made 2 changes from the 0-4 loss to Leeds 5 days earlier. With Nick Pope out, Dyche gave a debut to Will Norris in goal in place of Bailey Peacock-Farrell, and Matej Vydra made way for Johann Berg Gudmunsson as the hosts switched to a 4-3-3, diverting away from their ever-present 4-4-2 setup.

The visitors made one change from the last-gasp win at West Brom, seeing Gini Wijnaldum slot into the midfield in place of Curtis Jones with the youngster dropping to the bench. Roberto Firmino maintained his place amidst Jota's injury, and Klopp maintained faith in 20 year old centre back Rhys Williams, starting his 4th consecutive Premier League game.

Liverpool started on the front foot and threatened from the off, with the dangerous Salah finding space in behind early on and Mane spurning a guilt-edged chance, as Alexander-Arnold's deflected cross located the forward 6 yards out, but he could only prod his effort way wide of Norris' goal, much to the amusement of the home faithful. Despite this, the hosts also started brightly, as target man Chris Wood came close and Matt Lowton having his fierce drive headed over the bar by Williams, in one of many Liverpool clearances made by the centre halfs throughout the game.

After a quarter of an hour, Liverpool's electric front three gave us all a reminder of the threat being carried. A fantastic move seeing Salah and Mane combining, with the latter pulling off an exquisite backheel to Firmino, but the Brazilian was only able to drag his effort wide of the goal from 12 yards out. Down the other end, the Clarets came inches away from opening the scoring too, Wood latching onto a diagonal from Lowton but only able to lash his half-volley into the side netting from 10 yards out, with the Kiwi often so deadly from that range. These spurned chances looked to be costly for Burnley, as the Reds created two massive opportunities in as many minutes. First, Salah brilliantly finding Thiago's darting run from the middle of the park, but the midfielder only able to fire his effort across goal and out for a goal kick. Moments later, Robertson's clearance fell directly into the path of the Egyptian, who's left-footed strike flew over the crossbar with only Norris to beat in the Burnley goal.

With the game being very open, it came as a surprise it took 38 minutes for the first attempt on target. With Burnley on the front foot after the Salah miss, McNeil created space and unleashed a rocket from the edge of the box that saw Alisson scrambling to his right to push it away - business as normal for the stopper after the frantic end of Sunday's game! Seconds later, the ball was down the other end and it was Liverpool creating once again, this time a corner eventually finding it's way to the outstanding Nat Phillips who struck a snapshot just over the bar from just 10 yards out. These chances were thankfully not costly for the Reds, who took the lead moments later just before the interval. With Robertson causing problems advancing from left back, he combined well with Mane before picking out FIRMINO who slotted past debutant Norris to grab his 9th goal of the season and silence Turf Moor.

HALF TIME - BURNLEY 0-1 LIVERPOOL

Burnley started the second half well, with Wood denied by Alisson and Gudmunsson theatrically going down in the area, but Chris Kavanagh rightly waving away appeals from both players and supporters. Salah, in pursuit of the golden boot, came close again as the front three again combined but the winger could only pick out the side netting, under pressure from Charlie Taylor, but, like in the first period, a missed chance was not rued. This time, the goal came from the unlikeliest of sources, as Mane's inch-perfect cross picking out PHILLIPS, who capped a successful season with a beautiful header back across Norris to give the visitors a two goal lead, and the defender his first Liverpool goal with 52 minutes on the clock. Salah once more came close after being played through by Firmino, but a combination of Taylor and Norris meant that his tame effort could only trickle way wide of the far corner.

It was not long after this that Burnley had their best spell of the game. In the 68th minute, Westwood's corner was tipped over the bar by Alisson, reminiscent of Westwood's goal directly from a corner at Anfield in 2019. The resulting corner was met by Tarkowski's head, but again Nat Phillips excelled as the goalbound effort was headed off the line. Mee then headed a corner wide, reminding Liverpool of the aerial ability of Burnley's centre halfs. Crosses began to pepper the Liverpool box, and the introduction of Vydra increased the issues for Liverpool's defence, but Phillips and Williams remained solid and left the home crowd frustrated as their team were unable to break through. Klopp responded as we entered the final exchanges, with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Milner replacing Firmino and Wijnaldum to secure the points.

And secure the points they did on 88 minutes, with OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN twisting and turning in the box, before creating space and smashing a low effort past Norris and into the bottom left corner, much to Klopp's delight on the touchline as Liverpool crucially increased their goal difference ahead of the final day on Sunday. The Liverpool manager also gave some game time to Kostas Tsimikas in stoppage time, as the Reds kept a clean sheet to see off the late Burnley flurries.

FULL TIME - BURNLEY 0-3 LIVERPOOL

A good evening for the Reds didn't pass without the odd scare, but a clean sheet, 3 goals and 3 points were a welcome return ahead of the crucial match vs Crystal Palace on Sunday. A Man of the Match display from Nat Phillips bodes well ahead of the new season, and with Salah still in the golden boot race, all eyes will be on the King Power Stadium as Leicester take on Spurs, with the Foxes hoping for a Liverpool slip up, and Salah hoping to pip Harry Kane to the golden boot. This result however does put their fate in their own hands. For Burnley, a trip to Sheffield United awaits, as the Clarets hope to finish yet another Premier League season on a high.