Welcome to the LFC Final Word. In this series, I provide an in-depth analysis of games from a Liverpool supporter's perspective.
Match Facts
Burnley vs Liverpool
Turf Moor
Wednesday 5th December, 19:45
Result
Burnley 1 - 3 Liverpool
Match Summary
With a crazy set of fixtures over the next month, this was always going to be a difficult balancing game for Klopp if he was to avoid exhaustion. Rotation of the squad was to be expected here with Burnley so low on confidence but injuries perhaps forced more changes to the team than would have been the case without them. Liverpool supporters around the world would have been forgiven for feeling a little worried at the inclusion of Matip and Moreno, neither of which have been convincing in the back line over the last couple of years.
As expected, Liverpool looked rather disjointed throughout most of the first half. Although this is somewhat explained by the number of changes to the team, it really wasn't good enough. Burnley have won 1 game all season, and Crystal Palace managed 29 shots on goal against them in their previous game. This is a side that Liverpool should be beating at a leisurely jog. One of the main issues was the slow pace to the game, with Liverpool's passing causing very little problems for a Burnley side that would sit back into a makeshift back 6 when they didn't have the ball. Keita was the standout player for the Reds throughout the first half, and he really lit up the pitch at times with his driving runs and quick passing that showed how fragile Burnley were when teams went at them with some pace.
Conceding the first goal was frustrating but it's something that Liverpool supporters have become accustomed to against sides like this over the last couple of decades. 'Written in the stars' is a sentence I really don't like to hear but it does often feel like that when struggling sides take on Liverpool and seem to find an extra boost of ability that they've lacked against other teams. However, Klopp's substitutions were enough to increase Liverpool's presence in the attacking third and the Reds always looked like they'd go on to win the game once Milner had equalised. A goal for Firmino will do his confidence the world of good as he's been looking a little jaded in recent weeks following a rigorous schedule. Hopefully, some of you reading will have noticed my betting pick for Shaqiri to score in the pre-match post because he went and did just that to make the final score 1 - 3 in Liverpool's favour.
The Final Word
These are the kind of games that are so easy to slip up in but are also really important to win if Liverpool want to keep up with the ridiculous form of Manchester City this season. The clubs are now showing that this is likely to become a two-horse race with Liverpool now 6 points clear of Tottenham, 8 points clear of Chelsea and Arsenal respectively, and a whopping 16 points clear of Manchester United.
Rotation is always risky, but this time it has paid off for Klopp and the focus will now turn to another important game against Bournemouth at the weekend. This is another game that will test the Reds, but it's a great opportunity with Manchester City having to take on Chelsea in the next set of fixtures. All in all, a job well done for Klopp and his team.
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