Flustered deep into stoppage time, drama kings Liverpool again found a way to three points with a 1-0 win over 10-man Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday.
MORE — Arne Slot, Van Dijk, Salah post-match thoughts
The defending Premier League champions saw Mohamed Salah convert a penalty in the fifth of five minutes’ stoppage to lift the Reds to a 4-0-0 record and back into their place alone atop the table.
A Jeremie Frimpong cross struck leaping Hannibal Mejbri’s elbow just inside the 18 during stoppage time, and that was the only way to goal for either side.
WATCH — Burnley vs Liverpool full match replay
Lesley Ugochukwu dodged an early red card but picked up a second yellow in the 84th minute, but even the advantage didn’t really move the needle. Liverpool out-attempted Burnley 27-3 but only put four shots on target.
Burnley remain outside the relegation zone on goal differential, 17th with three points.
Growing pains and growth for Liverpool
Both Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah mentioned the new players in this team in discussing how this game lasted so long at nil-nil and still required a fortunate (and very legal) penalty to get Liverpool to 4-0-0 on the season. For good reason, as Hugo Ekitike was a bit quiet at Turf Moor and Salah has been anything but his best over the past few games. Yet big money buy Florian Wirtz look his most comfortable yet after a match versus Arsenal where, well, he also seemed to improve in the comfort department. The team will still need to work in Alexander Isak and there will be growing pains there as well, but to be 4-0-0 with wins over Newcastle and Arsenal? Not a bad place to be at the moment. (NM)
Burnley’s old and young star but can they get enough goals?
Two names made this plan work for Burnley, as veteran goalkeeper Martin Dubravka exhibited extreme control of his box in a wise display (again), while young left back Quilindschy Hartman was an outright star on Mohamed Salah’s side of the pitch. Hartman, 23, has been in England for all of a month and showed the right kind of mind for when to crash the ball down the pitch and when do try his hand at opening up a real attacking chance.Hartman led all players in defensive contributions with an eye-popping 17 while fellow 23-year-old back Maxime Esteve was right behind him. Still, they’ll need to cash in more goals. Their 3.23 xG through four games includes outings against Spurs, Liverpool, and Man United so it doesn’t mean Burnley can’t generate adequate danger — we just haven’t seen it yet. (NM)
What’s next?
Liverpool host Atletico Madrid at 3pm ET Wednesday, then host Everton early Saturday in the Merseyside derby.
Burnley prepare for a 10am Saturday visit from Nottingham Forest.
Burnley vs Liverpool extended video highlights
How to watch Burnley vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9 am ET, Sunday
Venue: Turf Moor — Burnley
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch on NBC.com
Burnley vs Liverpool final score: 0-1
Mohamed Salah pen 90+5'
Burnley vs Liverpool live updates — by Nick Mendola
Mohamed Salah penalty goal — Burnley 0-1 Liverpool
One of the Egyptian’s quietest days ends with a bang — a perfect penalty past Dubravka.
Liverpool penalty!
Jeremie Frimpong’s cross or strike snaps into the elbow of leaping Hannibal Mejbri. Liverpool are going to the spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Burnley sub
Armando Broja into the game for Jaidon Anthony, who has been quite good and boundlessly energetic.
89th minute now.
Liverpool subs
Wirtz and Konate exit for Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha.
Burnley sub, Szoboszlai free kick
Joe Worrall comes into the game for Lyle Foster.
No heroics from Szoboszlai this time, as he blazes an inaccurate kick.
Lesley Ugochukwu sent off!
He may have been fortunate to avoid a red card in the first half, and he’s going to get one here after flicking his boot at Wirtz and then scissor sliding at the German.
The Clarets are down to 10 men and they have conceded a free kick scant few yards outside the 18.
0-0, 85'.
Chiesa up next
Ekitike is out for Federico Chiesa in the 72nd minute, and the Italian almost immediately has a chance to open the scoring.
It doesn’t happen, and we’re nil-nil despite a 24-2 shot attempts advantage for the visitors.
Reds threaten after restart
An early penalty shout led to a corner, and soon Ryan Gravenberch smashes a strong volley that takes a slight deflection off a Burnley player and heads over the goal. The deflection unseen, Burnley reset with a goal kick in the 48th minute.
0-0.
Liverpool sub
Mac Allister will not continue, and Dominik Szoboszlai will move from right back into the midfield as Conor Bradley enters the match at right back.
Halftime — Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
The Clarets have been compact and chances minimal for the favored visitors.
Liverpool have attempted 10 shots but only one has found its way to Martin Dubravka, who has been in control of his box.
The Reds boast 78% possession and an xG advantage of 0.91-0.12.
The front four is an issue at the moment, and Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and Cody Gakpo might be on the same page but they are in different paragraphs.
Milos Kerkez sub
Arne Slot is explaining to Kerkez how close he came to a second yellow card, it seems.
Andy Robertson takes his place in the 38th minute.
Milos Kerkez yellow for diving
Ryan Gravenberch with a clever pass to Milos Kerkez in the box, and the Hungarian fullback cannot track down the ball.
He can track down mild contact from Josh Laurent, and he tries to win a penalty with an exaggerated fall. It earns him a yellow card.
0-0, 23'.
Lesley Ugochukwu cautioned as Alexis Mac Allister felled
The former Chelsea man wins the ball but his studs snap into the leg of Alexis Mac Allister.
The Argentine has been on the turf for some time with trainers as Ugochukwu sees a yellow card.
He eventually gets to his feet to test out the peg while Conor Bradley warms up, but it looks like Mac Allister will stay in the game without leaving the pitch.
0-0, 19' after a 3-4 minute delay.
Burnley chance!
Virgil van Dijk hits a bad pass that Josh Cullen turns into attack.
Loum Tchaouna zips up the right side of the pitch, cutting the ball across the top of the 18.
Jaidon Anthony finds his way to it, but his strong shot is about a foot too high for the goal and a half-foot too high for a leaping Alisson, who likely had it under control.
Underway
The first five minutes have been non-descript aside from a Cody Gakpo shot that failed to hit its mark.
No Alexander Isak for Liverpool, will make debut in Champions League
“We decided it is the best for him to have a proper week of training instead of going for five or 10 minutes of playing.” Slot said. “I can assure the fans that he will be involved Wednesday but this game came a bit too early.”
The Reds play Atletico Madrid to start their UEFA Champions League campaign at Anfield. And perhaps the idea of a home debut for Isak was also willed into existence. Liverpool do love an occasion.
Burnley lineup
Dubravka, Walker, Hartman, Esteve, Ekdal, Laurent, Ugochukwu, Cullen, Tchaouna, Anthony, Foster
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike, Salah
Burnley vs Liverpool preview — by Andy Edwards
The Reds not only beat Arsenal in their massive showdown before the international, but more importantly Arne Slot’s side also kept a clean sheet for the first time this season after conceding four goals in the their first two games. Arsenal hardly went for the win (one shot on target, 0.49 xG) and Liverpool didn’t have a shot from inside 12 yards in the game, but Dominik Szoboszlai smashed a stunning free kick past David Raya late on and that’s the risk you take playing for 0-0. Now, they get even stronger (at least, in theory) with Alexander Isak set to make his debut this weekend. Will Slot use Isak and Hugo Ekitike, another summer signing already off to a strong start, together? Or, will he rotate them often (think: 60-30 minutes split) to keep both players fit and sharp throughout the long, grueling season as Liverpool chase silverware in four competitions? Probably a bit of both eventually, but Isak will likely be eased in at first after logging just 18 minutes of football (against Kosovo on Monday) since last season ended in May.
Burnley, meanwhile, must bounce back from a heartbreaking defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Clarets level at 2-2 until Bruno Fernandes scored from the penalty spot in the 96th minute — within seconds of taking four points from their first three games. Three points aren’t so bad either, but the competition won’t get any easier with trips to Manchester City and Aston Villa to round out September and start October. If they can get through these next four games with their dignity (and a respectable defensive record) still intact, they’ll have a chance of staying up this season.
Burnley team news, focus
OUT: Zeki Amdouni (knee), Manuel Benson (achilles), Jordan Beyer (knee), Connor Roberts (fitness)
Liverpool team news, focus
OUT: Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring), Curtis Jones (undisclosed injury)
Burnley vs Liverpool prediction
A bit of a coming-out party for Florian Wirtz, who would absolutely love to get that monkey off his back and keep his place in the team when Isak is up to speed. The Liverpool training sessions might be better than some of their games, in all honesty. Burnley 0-2 Liverpool.
