Liverpool Player Ratings vs Burnley

Burnley travelled to Anfield in good form having picked up ten points in their last four games to leave them just two points from the European places. Jürgen Klopp gave starts to Curtis Jones and Neco Williams but there was no drop-off in performance as Liverpool dominated the early stages. Jones and Mohamed Salah were denied by Nick Pope before Andy Robertson opened the scoring with a brilliant header.

Liverpool continued to have the best of the play after the break with Roberto Firmino hitting the upright in pursuit of his first home league goal of the season. Salah and Jones also came close but it was Burnley who got the game’s second when Jay Rodriguez found the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The home side rallied in search of a goal but it was the visitors who came closest to a winner when Joey Gudmundsson smashed a shot off the Liverpool crossbar with just minutes remaining. Salah had a glorious chance in stoppage time but the impressive Pope saved his weak effort.

That draw leaves Liverpool needing to win all three of their remaining Premier League games to beat Manchester City’s 100 point record.

Liverpool Player Ratings

Alisson Becker – Was rarely called upon in the first hour with Liverpool dominating possession and could do little with Rodriguez’s equaliser. However he was nearly responsible for a winner after a poor punch saw the ball drop to Gudmundsson who hit the woodwork. 6/10

Neco Williams – Williams had played left-back against Brighton in midweek but looked more comfortable on his favoured right side against Burnley. Looks to be a solid deputy but was withdrawn for Alexander-Arnold with Klopp chasing a second. 7/10

Joe Gomez – Has used Matip’s injury to establish himself as Van Djik’s long-term partner in the Liverpool defence and looked solid again today, dealing well with Burnley’s growing aerial threat in the latter stages. 7/10

Virgil van Dijk – Made one uncharacteristically sloppy pass in the first half but his physical presence was vital to repel Burnley’s aerial threat towards the end. Made a couple of ambitious long passes late on but was unable to spark a winner. 7/10

Andy Robertson – Hadn’t scored in the league since November but the Scottish left back’s first half goal was the finish of a striker, guiding his back-post header into the top corner. Looked well-rested on his return to the staring XI and gave Phil Bardsley a torrid afternoon. 8/10

Gini Wijnaldum – Began in a more subdued role to allow Jones more creative license but pushed forward more in the second half, keeping possession well without ever posing a real attacking threat. 6/10

Fabinho – Another very impressive performance from the midfielder who created Robertson’s opener with a deft pass over the Burnley defence. Tired slightly towards the end on a hot afternoon on Merseyside. 7/10

Curtis Jones – The young Liverpudlian was making his first Premier League start and showed nice touches from the tip of Liverpool’s midfield, twice coming close to scoring in the first half. Faded a bit in the second and was taken off with 20 remaining. 7/10

Mohamed Salah – Was clearly looking to add to his goal tally but was frustrated twice by brilliant Nick Pope saves in the first half. The Egyptian continued to strive in the second but his efforts looked increasingly tired, culminating in a meek effort from 8 yards in stoppage time. 5/10

Roberto Firmino – The Brazilian’s selflessness is key to the wide men’s prolific goal-scoring and that was apparent again today, linking the play around the box and always on the move. Unlucky not to score with an effort that clipped the post. 7/10

Sadio Mane – He combined well with Robertson in the first half and his directness caused problems for the Burnley defence. However as Liverpool pushed forward in search of a second space became harder to come by and the Senegalese forward lost a bit of effectiveness. 7/10

Liverpool substitutes

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Brought on for the final twenty minutes and pushed forward well, delivering a couple of quality crosses that were not converted. 7/10

Naby Keita – Had been impressive in recent games and brought energy to the midfield again, breaking through the Burnley lines well. 7/10

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Came on for the final ten minutes but saw little of the ball. N/A