Darwin Nunes and finally Diogo Jota scored Liverpool’s decisive win over Burnley in the Premier League. The Reds fought in front of goal but did just enough to win. There will be plenty of challenges for Liverpool in the coming weeks and it would help if the likes of Luis Diaz can find some form. But the holiday season will always be remembered for results rather than performances.
Liverpool were dominant and in control but lost a clinical edge in the final third. Burnley offered little beyond a few snaps, but a two-goal lead is always safer than a one-goal lead. Liverpool wanted and should have scored earlier but his quality showed in the end. The return of Diogo Yota was certainly a welcome sight for Liverpool. It didn’t take him long to show why he was going to be so important in the coming weeks. He scores goals, and those goals are usually decisive.
Diaz, who avoided the sack after last Saturday’s game with Arsenal, is back, albeit not in the same form. Colombia need to improve their performances in the near future, but the return of Jota could make this possible. The Portuguese forward is currently the fittest starter and the same could happen against Newcastle. Elsewhere, Jarell Quansah once again turned in an outstanding performance. Even in those rare moments where he had to take possession and make a block, he did his job very well. Virgil van Dijk has spoken to him, but Quansah is on course to become a permanent name on the team sheet.
It was another game where Ryan Gravenberch showed flashes but didn’t catch fire. To call it “bad” would be an understatement, and the positive way to think about it is that it could be more. Gravenberch has all the qualities to become an important part of Liverpool’s midfield, but Klopp will have to be patient. Keeping up with the pace of the Premier League is not always easy and can take some time.
The only “bad” thing is that the sequence is not faster. Because this is a huge asset.The players on the field were no better. Curtis Jones tried to get in, but Dominick Szoboszlai was not pulling any punches. Liverpool are still figuring out what their front trio will look like and are, of course, currently without Alexis McAllister. Burnley’s home record is as follows: A 5-0 win against Sheffield United and a defeat against eight (or now nine) other teams.
Liverpool should have won, but it was too late to confirm that.Some of the turnovers were disappointing and Liverpool should have created more chances, but Klopp wasn’t happy with the goal disallowance either. Harvey Elliott was offside and there can be few complaints. Cody would have plenty of reasons to be upset with Gakpo. Because even Charlie Taylor doesn’t seem to think he’s stupid.
