Liverpool 1-1 Burnley: Reds continue EPL winless run as Wirtz and Edwards net

Liverpool stretched their unbeaten competitive run to 12 matches, but the 1-1 draw they were held to by Burnley, whose winless league run now stands at 13 matches, was far from beneficial to their top-four hopes.

Match Report

Marooned inside the bottom three of the Premier League, Burnley could ill afford to start slowly at Anfield, but they came within a whisker of doing just that.

A sweeping Reds move freed Milos Kerkez inside the area, and while it seemed for all the world like he would sweep home the opener, he unselfishly decided to square for Curtis Jones instead, but a last-ditch Lucas Pires block turned the ball away to safety.

It was one-way traffic towards the Burnley goal for most of the first half, with Arne Slot’s men finally forcing Martin Dubravka into action midway through the opening 45 when he had to beat away Hugo Ekitike’s powerful drive from distance.

Liverpool couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to take the lead than the one they were given when Florentino felled Gakpo inside the area.

Dominik Szoboszlai assumed responsibility from the spot, but his rocket from 12 yards cannoned back off the crossbar as Liverpool were left to rue their poor luck.

Both Gakpo and Florian Wirtz tested Dubravka shortly after, and the latter of that duo was the man who finally broke the Clarets’ resistance when he thundered into the roof of the net three minutes before half-time.

The Reds’ onslaught continued after half-time, and with confidence coursing through the veins for Wirtz, only the legs of Dubravka denied him a second of the afternoon.

His teammate Gakpo came even closer just moments later when he did beat the Burnley stopper but was left despairing when Bashir Humphreys cleared his effort off the line.

Liverpool paid the ultimate price for those missed opportunities too, when with what was almost the first time they got into the box, Marcus Edwards arrived an effort across Alisson and into the far corner.

Ekitike did have the ball in the net 15 minutes from time when he slammed home a loose ball inside the area, but he had strayed offside when Virgil van Dijk had headed down the initial cross.Pressure was incessant on the Burnley goal in the closing stages, but Slot’s men simply couldn’t breach their dogged back line and were forced to settle for a point which harmed their top-four challenge.

A point at Anfield was certainly credible for Burnley, although it did little to boost their survival hopes.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

3' Kerkez gets in from Szoboszlai's pass and could shoot but tries to square it

11' Frimpong crosses from the right but Szoboszlai's header drifts wide

16' Decent enough strike from Florentino, with his left foot, sails into the Kop

20' Ekitike fires a good effort towards goal, saved by Dubravka

25' Lovely dip of the shoulder from Gravenberch, deflects wide for a corner

26' Szoboszlai's cross from deep is aimed for Van Dijk, just misses the far post

32' Penalty Missed!  Szoboszlai smashes it against the bar! Burnley survive

36' The third save of its kind to Dubravka's left, this time to keep out Wirtz

43' Goal! Wirtz fires his effort into the top corner! Liverpool 1-0 Burnley

49' Edwards with a shot on the turn that goes narrowly off target

56' Chance for Wirtz's second but Dubravka is out smartly to save

63' Big save from Alisson to prevent a Konate own goal

65' GOAL Burnley! Marcus Edwards equalises! Liverpool 1-1 Burnley

75' A spell of Liverpool pressure ends with Gakpo's low shot saved by Dubravka

77' Ekitke has the ball in the net but the flag is up

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitiké, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz

Subs: Endo, Robertson, Joe Gomez, Chiesa, Mac Allister, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Calvin Ramsay, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Edwards, Tuanzebe, Florentino, Armando Broja, Maxime Estève, Bashir Humphreys, Jaidon Anthony, L. Ugochukwu, Lucas Pires

Subs: Barnes, Josh Laurent, Larsen, Hjalmar Ekdal, Lyle Foster, Hannibal, Loum Tchaouna, Quilindschy Hartman, Max Weiß