Liverpool restored their two-point lead at the top of the table with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Burnley thanks to goals from Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.
After Manchester City’s 2-0 win against Everton earlier in the day, Liverpool knew that only a victory would take them back to the summit, and despite being unconvincing in large spells, they did enough to secure another three points and remain top for another week.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Man City
MCI
|
38 | +62 | 91 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
38 | +62 | 89 |
| 3 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
38 | +45 | 82 |
How the match unfolded
Liverpool made five changes from their defeat to Arsenal last Sunday, with Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, Andy Robertson, Wataru Endo and Nunez coming in.
Burnley made three alterations as Maxime Esteve and Hannes Delcroix came into defence while David Datro Fofana, who scored twice last time out against Fulham, made his first start for the club.
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After a slow start, Liverpool began to assert pressure on Burnley’s goal by forcing a series of corners.
And in the 31st minute, they made a set-piece count as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s outswinging ball was met by Jota, who had the simple task of heading the ball into an empty net after Burnley ‘keeper James Trafford failed to claim the ball.
Alexander-Arnold’s assist meant it was his 58th in the Premier League, the most by any defender in the competition.
Trafford made amends moments later as he denied Diaz at the near post before Burnley shocked Anfield by levelling the score in the 45th minute through Dara O’Shea, who scored his first Premier League goal after planting his header in the top-right corner.
Liverpool made a half-time substitution as Harvey Elliott came on for Alexander-Arnold and the former had a quick impact after producing a cross that found the head of Diaz, who restored the Reds’ lead in the 52nd minute.
Burnley had three great chances to level the score in quick succession. First Fofana shot straight at Kelleher after racing through on goal before Wilson Odobert shot the rebound wide. Moments later Fofana was through on goal again but this time steered his shot wide.
The match opened up and Jota forced a good save from Trafford before Quansah’s strike narrowly missed the frame of the goal.
Liverpool then put the contest out of Burnley’s reach when Nunez planted his header into the bottom corner from Elliott’s cross in the 79th minute.
A third straight league win at Anfield puts Liverpool on 54 points, two more than second-placed City. Burnley remain 19th with 13 points, seven adrift of Luton Town in 17th.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
38 | -18 | 32 |
| 18 |
Luton
LUT
|
38 | -33 | 26 |
| 19 |
Burnley
BUR
|
38 | -37 | 24 |
| 20 |
Sheffield Utd
SHU
|
38 | -69 | 16 |
Club reports: Liverpool report | Burnley report
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Key facts
Liverpool are only the third different Premier League side to win as many as 30 home matches when scoring the opener after Arsenal in March 2004 and Manchester United in April 2001 (both 33).
Nine of Diogo Jota’s 40 Premier League goals for Liverpool have been headers. Since his first season at the club in 2020/21, only Harry Kane (18 headed goals) and Erling Haaland (10) have more in the competition.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has 58 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League, going level with Steve McManaman. Only Steven Gerrard (92 assists) and Mohamed Salah (66) have provided more for Liverpool in the competition.
Only Lyle Foster (seven goal involvements) and Zeki Amdouni (five) have been involved in more Premier League goals for Burnley this season than Dara O’Shea (four – one goal, three assists).
