Premier League
LiverpoolLiverpool1BurnleyBurnley1

Liverpool 1-1 Burnley

By Mike HensonBBC Sport
Philippe Coutinho
Liverpool turned down an £114m offer from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho over the summer

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said he was "angry with the result but pleased with the performance" after Burnley frustrated his side on Philippe Coutinho's return to the starting line-up.

The Reds racked up 35 efforts at goal to the Clarets' five, but could have lost had Joel Matip not cleared Ben Mee's header off the line late on.

"It's our fault. We were dominant, fantastic attitude. We played good, were fluent with seven changes, but only one goal," added Klopp.

"It's the best we have played against Burnley since I have been in. In the past we didn't feel good in the game. Today I saw fluid movements, passing between the lines, speed, crosses.

"We have to take the point and carry on."

Burnley went ahead through Scott Arfield's crisp finish on a rare foray forward in the 27th minute.

Mohamed Salah swivelled to dispatch a shot past goalkeeper Nick Pope three minutes later, but the seemingly inevitable second never arrived for the hosts.

Substitute Dominic Solanke's instinctive side-foot volley against the bar was as close as the Reds came, as Burnley enjoyed another fruitful away day after an opening-day victory at Chelsea and a draw against Tottenham.

Missing Mane?

Liverpool team celebrate Salah's goal
Liverpool's Sadio Mane is unavailable because of a three-match suspension

The suspension of Sadio Mane in the wake of his red card at Manchester City ushered in the return of Philippe Coutinho to Jurgen Klopp's starting line-up and the Brazilian seemed eager to show his commitment to the cause after an unsettled summer, featuring several offers from Barcelona.

Afforded a deeper role behind the attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Salah, he was as industrious as he was inventive.

Only centre-back Ragnar Klaven recorded more touches than Coutinho despite the attacker being brought off with 11 minutes to go.

Like his team though, his finishing was not good enough to convert pressure into a lead. Too often, Liverpool's shots were too wayward and from too far out.

On an afternoon of deep frustration, Klopp may take solace from the performance of Salah, whose speed and direct running provided a contrasting threat to Coutinho's clever angles and probing passes.

The Egyptian's return of five goals in eight games since signing from Roma in the summer could be even more impressive however - too often he found goalkeeper Pope rather than the back of the net when well placed. The suspicion is that Mane would not be found similarly wanting.

Burnley's happy travels continue

Shot map
Liverpool's 35 attempts at goal, (red being off target, green being on target, yellow being blocked), on the left, dwarfed Burnley's output

Burnley won only seven of their 40 points last season away from Turf Moor.

But they are only two away from matching that total after trips to Stamford Bridge, Wembley and Anfield in their opening three away fixtures of this campaign.

Occasionally the visitors rode their luck.

Mee could have seen a penalty awarded against him for a foul on Salah and 25-year-old Pope - excellent on his first Premier League start in place of the injured Tom Heaton - was helpless as Solanke hit the woodwork.

But the Clarets' trademark organisation and concentration - embodying boss Sean Dyche's priorities- restricted Liverpool to efforts from distance for long periods.

They are seventh, above today's opponents on goal difference, and can look forward to a more comfortable fight against relegation, at the very least, if they continue to prosper on the road.

Burnley exploit familiar failing

Scott Arfield
Scott Arfield scored his first goal of the season

Burnley boss Dyche admitted after the match that he encouraged his team to play direct and test Liverpool's defence after seeing their discomfort in the air at times this season.

A new centre-back combination of Klavan and Matip did little to solidify the Reds rearguard and Chris Wood's presence was enough to distract both in the lead-up to the opener.

Mee came close with headers from successive corners in the final 10 minutes and the frustration from the stands in reaction was surely aimed, not just at today's performance, but at the club's failure to strengthen in that area over the summer.

It is a failing that continues to undermine Liverpool's free-flowing attacking unit.

Man of the match - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Mohamed Salah
Salah had four shots on target - more than any other player - and carried plenty of attacking threat

'It's not about their defending' - reaction

Klopp 'angry' with Liverpool draw

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "When you have shots on goal it's not about their defending. Their keeper made a few outstanding saves.

Philippe had a really good game. He had a little cramp at the end. We did not plan to take him off but we had to decide differently."

Liverpool 1-1 Burnley: Sean Dyche says Clarets deserved draw

Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "I'm not afraid to get the ball forward and I thought that was effective. Our shape was good and Popey was excellent in goal.

"We know it's tough coming to these places and we are willing to do the bits that are nitty gritty in the game. Very few teams will come here and dominate, we knew we would have to do the basics. Now and again you need a bit of luck.

"We are still learning a little bit, me included but I'm very pleased with today."

Lots of shots, short on points - match stats

  • Liverpool had 35 attempts on goal - since 2003-04, they've only had more in a single Premier League match once (37 in the 4-0 win over Everton in April 2016).
  • Burnley have scored in consecutive league games at Anfield for the first time since August 1969.
  • These were the first points Burnley earned in a league match at Anfield since a 1-0 win in September 1974 - they had lost their previous four in a row before today.
  • Emre Can has provided as many assists in his four Premier League games this season as he had in his previous 89 combined in the competition (2).
  • Liverpool have averaged 72% possession over their last three Premier League games against Burnley, but have only managed to win one of those games (D1 L1).
  • Mohamed Salah is now Liverpool's top scorer in all competitions this season with five goals.

What's next?

Liverpool travel to Leicester in the League Cup on Tuesday before making the same trip in the Premier League on Saturday, 23 September.

Burnley take on Championship high-flyers Leeds in the League Cup on Tuesday before welcoming Huddersfield to Turf Moor the following Saturday in the league.

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

  • 22Mignolet
  • 66Alexander-Arnold
  • 32Matip
  • 17Klavan
  • 26Robertson
  • 7Milner
  • 23CanBooked at 90mins
  • 10CoutinhoSubstituted forSolankeat 78'minutes
  • 11Salah
  • 15Sturridge
  • 9FirminoSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 79'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Karius
  • 5Wijnaldum
  • 6Lovren
  • 14Henderson
  • 18Moreno
  • 21Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • 29Solanke

Burnley

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 29PopeBooked at 55mins
  • 2Lowton
  • 5Tarkowski
  • 6Mee
  • 23Ward
  • 17Berg GudmundssonSubstituted forBarnesat 60'minutes
  • 16DefourSubstituted forWestwoodat 87'minutes
  • 4CorkBooked at 90mins
  • 12Brady
  • 37Arfield
  • 11WoodSubstituted forVokesat 87'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Vokes
  • 10Barnes
  • 18Westwood
  • 19Walters
  • 26Bardsley
  • 28Long
  • 30Legzdins
Referee:
Roger East
Attendance:
53,231

Match Stats

Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamBurnley
Possession
Home71%
Away29%
Shots
Home35
Away5
Shots on Target
Home9
Away4
Corners
Home12
Away2
Fouls
Home7
Away9

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Liverpool 1, Burnley 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, Burnley 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt blocked. James Milner (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross.

  4. Booking

    Emre Can (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card.

  5. Booking

    Jack Cork (Burnley) is shown the yellow card.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jack Cork.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Emre Can (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James Milner.

  8. Post update

    Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Nick Pope.

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Emre Can (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

  10. Post update

    Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daniel Sturridge.

  11. Post update

    Hand ball by Matthew Lowton (Burnley).

  12. Post update

    Foul by Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).

  13. Post update

    Ashley Barnes (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Offside, Burnley. Stephen Ward tries a through ball, but Sam Vokes is caught offside.

  15. Post update

    Ragnar Klavan (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Sam Vokes (Burnley).

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Burnley. Ashley Westwood replaces Steven Defour.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Burnley. Sam Vokes replaces Chris Wood.

  19. Post update

    Dominic Solanke (Liverpool) hits the bar with a right footed shot from very close range. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

  20. Post update

    Attempt saved. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Milner with a cross.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City54101621413
2Man Utd43101221010
3Chelsea43018539
4Newcastle53026429
5Tottenham52217348
6Huddersfield52215328
7Burnley52216518
8Liverpool52219908
9Southampton52214408
10West Brom52214408
11Watford522179-28
12Arsenal420278-16
13Stoke512256-15
14Swansea512225-35
15Leicester511379-24
16Brighton511347-34
17Everton411226-44
18West Ham5113410-64
19Bournemouth510439-63
20Crystal Palace500508-80
View full Premier League table

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