Topic: PL: Liverpool 3 v Burnley 1 Jota 30', O'Shea 45', Diaz 52' Darwin 79'

[duvva 💅]

Liverpool vs Burnley

Saturday 10th February, 2024
Anfield, Liverpool
Premier League
Referee: Tim Robinson

Burnley make the short trip from Lancashire to Merseyside this weekend, facing their hosts Liverpool for the second time in just a matter of weeks – the sides last met at Turf Moor on Boxing Day, with the Reds securing a 2-0 victory. The intensity of the title challenge for Jurgen Klopp’s side intensified further last week, as they fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Arsenal and saw their advantage at the top of the table reduced. Burnley fought back late on from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at home to Fulham last weekend, but – seven points adrift of 17th-placed Luton Town – they appear on the verge of resignation, rather than the intensity of a relegation battle.

Liverpool last hosted Burnley in August 2021, in each side’s second game of the Premier League season. A goal in each half from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane saw Jurgen Klopp’s side secure a 2-0 win and a second victory of the season, whilst also condemning Sean Dyche’s Clarets to a second defeat. The Reds of course then charged through a long & largely-enjoyable season – they won both domestic cups at Wembley, with penalty victories over Chelsea, but the final day of the Premier League season provided heartbreak and the Champions League Final in Paris led to footballing disappointment, along with confusion, panic, and fury for supporters. Burnley struggled to turn draws into wins through the first half of the season, and spent much of it languishing in or just below the drop zone. Though the second half of the season brought victories, it also brought defeats, and despite a strong April giving them a slight advantage in the relegation battle, they were beaten 2-1 at home by Newcastle on the final day – Everton's 1-0 over Bournemouth on the same day confirming the Claret’s relegation to the Championship.

Burnley’s recent history is dominated by the near-decade long tenure of Sean Dyche, who took over in October 2012 following the resignation of Eddie Howe. Burnley had only spent one season in the top tier (2009-10) since the mid-70s, but Dyche secured promotion in his first full season in charge (having guided them to 11th in 2012-13). The Clarets fell short of the required quality upon their return to the Premier League, only emerging from the drop-zone on a few brief occasions before being relegated. Opting for continuity under Dyche, however, the club were able to build from this quick promotion & relegation and – after being promoted as Championship-winners in 2015-16 – were able to establish the period from 2012 onwards as the most successful ‘era’ for the club since the 1950s & ‘60s. Dyche’s side survived five Premier League seasons – enjoying two top-half finishes in 2018 & ‘20 – but Burnley endured a poor 2021-22 and their manager’s dismissal with eight games remaining was a roll of the dice that would not save them.

Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was appointed as Burnley manager in the summer of 2022. The Belgian had managed Anderlecht to 4th & 3rd-placed finishes in the Belgian league in his first two seasons as a senior manager. After a slow start to the season, Kompany’s Burnley stormed the Championship and secured promotion with 101 points (a Championship-best since Leicester City’s 102 in 2013-14). The 2023-24 season has delivered a reality check, however, and threatens to halt a new era for the club before it gets going. A difficult opening trio of matches (home to each of Man City, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur) served the Clarets three defeats, and they’ve picked up just 13 points in their twenty-three games to date – they were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by Spurs, and fellow relegation-threatened Everton dumped that out of the League Cup at the last sixteen stage. They currently sit seven points from safety (with Luton having a game in hand), and it’s difficult to identify a route for survival this season. In the slightly longer-term, a bigger question probably concerns Vincent Kompany and whether Burnley afford him the same faith & trust they had in Dyche following their relegation nine years ago.

Points are a weekly imperative for both Liverpool and Burnley from here until the end of the season, albeit for very different reasons. Defeat to Arsenal last weekend removed Liverpool’s breathing space at the top of the table, and puts extra emphasis on Man City’s visit to Anfield next month – supporters will be keen for Darwin Nunez to return to the starting line-up this weekend, particularly with the continued absence of Mo Salah and suggestions of flu affecting the the squad. Failure to beat Luton and Everton in recent weeks really has seen Burnley leave themselves in a vulnerable position – there'll be minimal expectations on this weekend’s match for the travelling support, but the the Claret’s predicament leaves Kompany’s side needing to be near-perfect in anything resembling a six-pointer for the remainder of the season if they’re set to give themselves chance of extending their Premier League stay.

[duvva 💅]

[jillcwhomever]

Welcome to the match thread, with a new high attendance of 60,000 at Anfield, to spur the Reds onto victory. We have Alisson and Gomez missing today due to flu, Kelleher and Robbo come in for them. Konate misses due to suspension and Endo is back from the Asian Cup. Tsimikas is back available and is on the bench as well. YNWA booms out.

The players are out on the pitch.

[jillcwhomever]

0 Burnley kick off, we're attacking the Anfield Road end first half.

[jillcwhomever]

1 An early freekick for Burnley comes to nought.

[duvva 💅]

Unreal Jota was away there not even close to a foul, defender tripped himself up

[jillcwhomever]

2 A good move involving Trent and Jota ends with Burnley just about coping, then some great pressing from Nunez.

[jillcwhomever]

4 A bit of possession from Burnley and they get a free kick after Curtis clips the heels of one of their attackers. We eventually clear the ball.

[jillcwhomever]

6 The game has been a bit messy, passes not finding their target and we are also not clearing well at the moment, so giving Burnley bits of the ball. We have to settle down, but the crowd are in great voice.

[jillcwhomever]

7 We get a free kick, Burnley have most of their players back at the moment. We make some progress but then lose the ball again. Aagh, come on Reds.

[jillcwhomever]

9 Still a bit awkward as we are not keeping possession well at the moment, so we're allowing Burnley some early possession. But the crowd have been really supportive, it can only improve.

[duvva 💅]

Kelleher has been good so far when needed

[jillcwhomever]

10 That's so much better, a great ball in by Robbo, Nunez can't quite get the connection. Burnley clear and then Trent puts it back in but its behind Nunez. We get a corner.

[jillcwhomever]

12 Some great movement here. Macca finds Diaz who goes a stunning run through the midfield the ball reaches Trent but he can't find the target. So much better though.

[jillcwhomever]

13 Burnley already doing their awful token time wasting with the goalie.

[jillcwhomever]

15 Nunez clearly fouled there yet no flag, just crazy. Macca gets the ball though and we win a corner. The ball goes in, is cleared then it goes out once again.

Over to duvva.

[jillcwhomever]

22 seconds to take a goal kick!

[duvva 💅]

Struggling for a stream can you carry on jill please

[jillcwhomever]

Struggling for a stream can you carry on jill please

Okay.

[jillcwhomever]

17 A bit more pressure from Burnley, but we clear the ball. Kelleher has been very proactive in his keeping so far.

[jillcwhomever]

18 We get ourselves in trouble again, with Trent mistiming a pass and we give away a free kick. The kick goes in a in swinger on the outside of the box. We break away but Nunez loses the ball.

[jillcwhomever]

21 A bit flat at the moment, we are still struggling to get used to all the new bodies in.

[jillcwhomever]

23 A nice little move from Curtis running with the ball, then moves it to Trent, they eventually get a foot in.

[jillcwhomever]

25 A little bit more speed with the move at the moment, we're moving it around a bit quicker, but just can't get through their defence into the really dangerous spots.

[jillcwhomever]

26 Free kick to Liverpool, Trent puts it in but they get it away. The ball goes back in but they defend it again.

[jillcwhomever]

28 We win a corner, Robbo swings it in. We can't get the contact though, they get it away. The ball goes back in but once again we can't get the connection.

[BobPaisley3]

No stream at the moment.

[duvva 💅]

I think im up and running now so can do Bob’s slot

[jillcwhomever]

30 A great ball there from Van Dijk finds Trent who puts the ball forward and Jota almost got there, would have been a real chance. Then we win it back, and win a corner. The ball is put in and there is Jota, wonderful finish. Get in Reds! 1-0

Over to Sir Bob.

[jillcwhomever]

I think im up and running now so can do Bob’s slot

Go for it!

[BobPaisley3]

I think im up and running now so can do Bob’s slot

Thanks mate

[duvva 💅]

Thanks Jill

Trafford complaining about being impeded by his own player. Lovely header from Diogoal

[duvva 💅]

32 Yellow for Endo after stopping an attack, Nunez was nearly away just before it

[duvva 💅]

34 the goal seems to have settled us, keeping the ball better and passing it about now trying to find space in the final third

[jillcwhomever]

Yes, its noticeable how much better we are now, probably not a surprise it was a slow start.

[duvva 💅]

37 Diaz almost scores but a great save from Trafford after being found by Nunez we keep attacking but it’s back with the GK after Jota is dragged to the ground no pen

[jillcwhomever]

Jota didn't seem to argue that time at all.

[duvva 💅]

39 Jurgen gets a yellow

[jillcwhomever]

39 Jurgen gets a yellow

 

[duvva 💅]

40 Burnley low shot from outside the box across the goal and wide - got a bit scrappy again