Welcome to our live coverage of Burnley v Liverpool, from Oof, Tough Place To Go, That.
Liverpool are the only side in England’s top six tiers with a 100% league record thus far, and heading into the international break with the Uefa Super Cup, 12 points from 12 and a two-point lead over Man City would represent a decent start to life as European Champions.
In their way today are Burnley and red-hot goal machine, Ashley Barnes.
Barnes has four goals in three games so far, and his strong start has been mirrored by his side. Having beaten Southampton 3-0 on the opening day, they were narrowly beaten away to Arsenal and then deeply unfortunate to be held 1-1 at Wolves last weekend. They were, however, beaten by Sunderland in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Liverpool have never had games away to Burnley go entirely their own way, so this should be interesting.
Get in touch with us below the line, or email gavincooney@the42.ie.
Kick off is at 5.30pm, and team news is coming up!
Team news
Burnley
Only one change for the Clarets – Everton Legend Aaron Lennon starts. Jeff Hendrick, in spite of playing 90 minutes in midweek, is on the bench.
Here's your Clarets team to face @LFC at Turf Moor today: pic.twitter.com/5Bz1gfN8bH
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 31, 2019
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp doesn’t make a single change from the side that beat Arsenal last weekend, mean. Alisson is still injured so Adrian continues in goal, and Irish U21 ‘keeper Caoimhin Kelleher is on the bench.
#LFC line up: Adrian, Trent AA, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Salah, Firmino, Mane
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) August 31, 2019
Elsewhere…
Manchester City cruised to a 4-0 win over Brighton at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon, meaning they go a point ahead of Liverpool for the time being, at least.
Frank Lampard continues his complex start to life at Chelsea – his side blew a two-goal lead at home to Sheffield United and had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Leicester’s strong start to the season continued: Jamie Vardy scored twice in a 3-1 win against Bournemouth. Crystal Palace beat 10-man Aston Villa 1-0, Newcastle and Watford shared a 1-1 draw, and West Ham beat newly-promoted Norwich 2-0.
In the lunchtime game, Manchester United lost a lead away to Southampton in drawing 1-1. Incredibly, United haven’t won an away game since beating PSG at the start of March.
It’s been a good day for Irish players across the Premier League, by the way.
Aaron Connolly made his Premier League debut in the final minutes of Brighton’s shellacking at Man City; Callum Robinson scored one goal and then forced Sheffield United’s equaliser at Stamford Bridge, his opening goal assisted by Enda Stevens; and Shane Long made his first Premier League appearance of the season as a substitute for Southampton against Manchester United.
Virgil van Dijk arrives at Turf Moor, environs slightly less salubrious than those in which he was crowned the best player of last season’s Champions League ahead of Ronaldo and Leo Messi.
Not everyone is convinced he deserved it.
Sky are trying to play up the ill-feeling that festered after this game last year, a riotous, violent game in which Joe Gomez came away with a broken leg. Jurgen Klopp complained about Burnley’s physicality after that game, but when asked by Sky today whether it would affect today’s game, he played shtum.
“I don’t think so…I wouldn’t have thought of it if I hadn’t been asked about it, to be honest.”
A quick line on Man City’s routine win against Brighton – it wasn’t without a problem. Key defender Aymeric Laporte was stretchered off with a knee injury in the first-half, with Pep Guardiola admitting after the game it doesn’t look good.
Liverpool last week set a new record of 12-straight wins in the Premier League, eclipsing the 11-game run that took them so close to the title under Brendan Rodgers in 2014.
Can they make it 13 today?
The teams are in the tunnel, which must be one of the most claustrophobic in the League. A hint of what Dyche and Burnley hope await Liverpool this afternoon…
Liverpool have won four of their last five games against Burnley; the last time they lost to the Clarets was on this ground at the start of the 2016/17 season, a game in which they had 81% of possession…and lost 2-0.
There hasn’t been a league draw between these sides on this ground since 1975.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
2 mins – Big save by Adrian! Liverpool are caught out by a simple ball over the top which an onside Chris Wood controls. He jinks inside Van Dijk, but his low shot toward the far corner is clawed away by Liverpool’s stand-in ‘keeper.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
4 mins – OFF THE POST! Mo Salah takes an instinctive, left-footed shot inside the box having been fed by Mane, and it clanks back off Nick Pope’s post.
So close!
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
9 mins – Liverpool haven’t been averse to knocking long balls thus far, with Mane challenging in the air and Firmino twice picking up the scraps. One of these led to Salah’s shot against the post, so it may be a profitable tactic for Liverpool this afternoon.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
10 mins – Dwight McNeil glides by Trent Alexander-Arnold down the left wing, but the Liverpool defender recovers and forces a corner.
It is taken by Ashley Westwood, and it is headed over by Van Dijk for a corner on the other side of the pitch.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
11 mins – Adrian, with a gang of Burnley shirts around him, does really well to punch that corner clear of danger. You may remember Alisson struggling under the same tactic at Anfield last season, to the point Westwood scored directly from a corner.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
13 mins – Wijnaldum gives the ball away in midfield, but does really well to read the Burnley pass and cut out a counter-attack. Then, a cracking interception by Ben Mee prevents Firmino from sliding Mane clear on goal.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
14 mins – Liverpool are struggling to find their rhythm thus far, with Burnley as stubborn as you might expect.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
15 mins – Barnes draws a foul from Van Djik midway in Liverpool’s half, so there’s a Dycheian set-piece coming up…
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
17 mins – Minutes later, Fabinho concedes a free-kick in a similar position. Take II…
…and again it goes way too far and out for a goal-kick. Tarkowski couldn’t get close to it this time.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
17 mins – McNeill robs Fabinho in midfield, but his long-range shot is deflected tamely into Adrian’s arms.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
20 mins- Bar Salah’s shot against the post, Liverpool have yet to create anything else. Their front three have been uninvolved – Burnley are tenacious in midfield and making things craggy, scrappy and ultimately difficult for Klopp’s side.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
21 mins – As we say that… Salah should score!
Salah runs to goal, his pass for Firmino breaks into Henderson’s pass, who dinks a gorgeous pass into the area for Salah, whose toe-poked shot is saved by Pope. The ball then hits Salah again…and rolls just wide!
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
23 mins – Replays show that Pope got a fingertip to the earlier Salah shot that hit the post – so that’s a stunning save. Suddenly Liverpool are finding more space – Firmino sees a shot blocked by Tarkowski.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
24 mins – Alexander-Arnold floats a delicious cross to the back post where Mane is totally unmarked. He jinks in, shimmies, and shoots, but sees his shot blocked for Liverpool’s first corner. Firmino heads Salah’s set-piece into Pope’s arms.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
26 mins – A fizzed Henderson crossed is eventually hacked away by the Burnley defence. It’s all Liverpool now, and Burnley have dropped about 10 yards deeper.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
26 mins – Tarkowski stops and stoops in front of a leaping Firmino, who flies over him and falls on his arse. Firmino, somehow, is penalised for a foul.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
27 mins – A superb backpost clearance by Alexander-Arnold spoons a lethal-looking Lennon cross behind for a corner. Van Dijk heads the corner clear and Liverpool break…
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
28 mins – A really poor Firmino pass skewers the counter. Mane was ahead of the Burnley defenders but in his own half, so would have been onside and one on one – a chance missed.
Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
32 mins – Fabinho concedes another free-kick midway in Liverpool’s half, but again the Reds’ defence deals with Westwood’s dead ball.
GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Liverpool (Alexander Arnold)
Liverpool take the lead in bizarre fashion. Alexander-Arnold flights a first-time, right-footed cross from the wing…and it sails over Nick Pope and into the net! Alexander-Arnold thrust his hands in the air in celebration…and surprise.
jokes_you_wish_you_thought_of.jpeg
Not like the Pope to be uncomfortable with a cross #BURLIV ✝️
— Stephen Elliott (@SleevesElliott) August 31, 2019
Burnley 0-1 Liverpool
36 mins – In fairness to Pope, Alexander-Arnold’s cross flicked off Chris Wood’s back, which led to the ‘keeper’s confusion.
GOAL! Burnley 0-2 Liverpool (Mane)
Liverpool are ruthless. Ben Mee hacks at a clearance and gives the ball straight to Firmino, who gallops forward and pops the ball to his left, where Sadio Mane appears to side-foot the ball beyond Pope.
Correction
39 mins – Alexander-Arnold’s glory has been shortlived -the Premier League have confirmed the opening goal was an own goal by Chris Wood, given the ball wouldn’t have otherwise gone toward the goal.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
42 mins – It’s fair to say that quick one-two by Mane and, er, Chris Wood’s back has floored Burnley here. They’ve played well Burnley had for long spells had upset Liverpool…but it doesn’t count for much now.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
43 mins – Barnes finally finds some space on the edge of the box, but snaps his shot over the bar. In the battle of the Ballon D’Or contenders, Van Dijk has the edge on Ashley Barnes so far.
Half-time: Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
Well, Burnley started well and knocked Liverpool miles from their rhythm, but a freak moment of luck off Chris Wood and a sloppy error by Ben Mee within the space of four minutes means Liverpool trot to the dressing room in cruise control.
We’ll be back in a few.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
45 mins – Since December 2016, Liverpool haven’t lost a game when leading at half-time.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
47 mins – Lovely link-up play between Mane and Robertson forces a corner. It began with Van Dijk reading a Burnley through-ball perfectly. He’s so good.
His partner Matip is penalised for a push once that corner makes the penalty area.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
48 mins – Sky are, remarkably, talking about Liverpool’s Goal Difference being inferior to City’s. It’s surely too early for that?
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
49 mins – That said, they might have added to it there but for Erik Pieters’ intervention, who cut out a pass going directly to an unmarked Firmino in the box.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
50 mins – Turf Moor was raucous at the start of the game but deathly silent now. Liverpool are pretty comfortable…
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
52 mins – Oh dear. Nice Burnley play works the ball to right-back Matt Lowton in oceans of room down the flank, but he completely miscontrols and the ball goes out of play.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
53 mins – Van Dijk has won two headers above Chris Wood in the space of about 30 seconds. The second leads to Firmino slipping a pass through for Salah, but the offside flag flies up in the air.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
55 mins – Alexander-Arnold is penalised for a shirt tug on McNeil by the corner flag. Chance here…
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
56 mins – Fabinho does well to read a knock down and win a challenge ahead of Barnes. He’s done a good job of winning those second balls today.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
58 mins – Liverpool go looking for a third. Firmino robs Tarkowski in the six-yard box but his shot is blocked; the ball is cleared but back it comes through Alexander-Arnold. He weaves to the edge of the box and prods the ball through for Salah, who finds the side-netting. Matter of time, you feel…
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
60 mins – Tarkowski lazily shunts Fabinho over on the left-hand edge of the box. Alexader-Arnold pulls the free-kick across the goal for Salah, whose left-footed shot is blocked by Mee.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
61 mins – Would you like to know how many touches Chris Wood has had so far today?
It’s 13.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
61 mins – Salah goes on a mazy run but shoots tamely at Pope, where a pass to his right to Firmino was the recommended option.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
63 mins – Henderson – who has been terrific – sprays a ball behind Pieters to pick out Alexander-Arnold in loads of space. A great pass, that earns a corner via the right-back’s deflected cross.
The corner comes to nothing.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
64 mins – Firmino has an overhead kick headed away by Mee in front of the goal line. The move began with Westwood lousily losing possession in midfield, which led to a blocked Henderson shot that he turned into a cross for Firmino. The subsequent corner also comes to naught.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
65 mins – Henderson flies into a tackle with Lennon about three days late. It’s the Liverpool captain who has come off the worst, and he is down clutching his thigh. He’s writhing in pain, and this would be a disappointing end to what’s been a terrific performance.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
67 mins – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ready to come on, but it looks as if Henderson should be good to continue.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
69 mins – Slightly better by Burnley. Westwood fizzes a through ball that Barnes traps, but he should have allowed it run through for Wood!
Henderson does make way, Oxlade-Chamberlaincomes on and Van Djik takes the captain’s armband.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
70 mins – Van Djik tries a half-volley from 40 yards, but it goes over the bar. It’s a sign of how comfortable Liverpool are at the moment.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
72 mins – Matip isn’t so comfortable. He miscontrols, and then hacks down Ashley Barnes by the touchline. Tarkowski finally gets his head on a cross ahead of Van Dijk, but he heads over.
Jay Rodriguez comes on for Ashley Barnes for Burnley.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
74 mins – Fabinho clips a ball into the channel for Salah – as happened last weekend – but Mee doesn’t do a David Luiz and clears.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
76 mins – Wood finds space in front of Van Djik, spins and feeds, Rodriguez, who closes in on Adria- ah, he’s a mile offside.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
77 mins – Fabinho loses the ball on the edge of Burnley’s box but just as they are about to break, Oxlade-Chamberlain skittles across and cuts the ball out. A glimpse into how organised Liverpool are, even when they have the ball.
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
78 mins – Salah picks out Oxlade-Chamberlain on the counter, who blasts a first-time shot right at Pope. Burnley respond with a long-range McNeil shot that finds the middle rows of the stand.
GOAL! Burnley 0-3 Liverpool (Firmino)
Good night, Burnley. Matip picks out Firmino in loads of space in the middle of the pitch, he slides a ball to the right channel for Salah, who cuts inside, jinks a little further left, then over-controls his final touch into Firmino’s pass, who slots the ball beyond Pope with a first-time touch.
Liverpool are heading for a thirteenth-straight Premier League win.
Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
83 mins – Salah dribbles into the box, but Pieters’ last-gasp intervention denies him a goal.
Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
84 mins – Klopp shakes out his bench. Origi and Shaqiri come on, Mane and Firmino make way.
Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
85 mins – Hmmm. Sadio Mane throws a strop as he sits back down on the bench, nobody is quite sure what’s up with him. The best guess seems to be he is angry at Salah for not passing him the ball in the move before he made away. Firmino tells him that everything will be okay.
By assisting Firmino’s goal, Mohamed Salah has now officially contributed to 100 Liverpool goals (74 scored, 26 assisted) #Salah100
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) August 31, 2019
Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
88 mins – Rodriguez has a chance for a consolation goal as he ghosted by Van Djk , and although Adrian committed himself early in going to ground, he recovered to get a hand to his goal-bound effort. The subsequent corner is dealt with.
Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
90 mins – As three additional minutes are announced, Salah threads a ball through for Wijnaldum. His attempt to round Pope is hoisted by the ‘keeper, however, who does well to stoop and scoop the ball.
Full-time: Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
Three and easy for Liverpool, who took the sting out of Burnley’s stubborn start with two goals in the space of four minutes. Firmino added a third late on, as Liverpool keep their first clean sheet in a perfect start to the season.
They are the only club in England with a 100% record, and they head to the international break two points clear of Man City.
Thanks for following, bye!
He’s like a piece of Iron, In BOD we trust.
Good man Brian!
Brian O Driscoll is a legend. Irish Rugby wont be the same when he retires.
The best and most professional player ever to play in a green shirt. He is right too.
What an absolute legend this man is! Good on ya Drico, that you weren’t born in Limerick or Cork is all I ever disliked about ya!
Its a shame his success at international is been hindered by a poor coaching ticket.
A great player no doubt and a great ambassador for the game. is he past his prime, in my opinion yes. He is. Ronan, do you think that’s valid? would you rather not have an opinion and merely comment on the opinions of others. A whole…….
I agree he had a good game against Edinburgh. He may not have the pace of when he was younger – but his try against Treviso showed he reads a game like no one else. It has been a privilege to be able to watch him over the years.
Hope you help to deliver a third Heineken cup in a row in Landowne Road in May BOD!
He’s the Javier Zanetti of rugby!
Terrible against edinburgh. He knows well enough it’s over for him this season.thanks for the memories. Dignity is important.
The punishment that man’s body has taken is incredible. He’ll finish up in a wheelchair if he doesn’t give it up shortly.
U either didnt watch the game or ur clueless (or trolling).
Of course hes past his prime – but still has a lot to give. U said he was terrible against edinburgh. Which he clearly was not.
Yawn
Your obviously clueless or a Munster fan
He was about the only decent performer against Edinburgh. De Luca did nothing all game
The headline does not in any way reflect what O’Driscoll actually said, have just listened to the interview on Newstalk!
First few lines say that BOD has “given his strongest indications yet that he would love to stick around for another crack at World Cup success.”, but further down the man himself says: “We’ll deal with the November Series first and, hopefully if I’m still in the mix, the Six Nations next year. After that is still too far away to be considering.”
Any chance you could reconcile that a bit Patrick, because it’s fairly misleading I think?
he should do what the likes of d. o’callaghan and others do. retire. but keep playing for ireland
“Brian O’Driscoll rules out retirement and targets World Cup success.” What does success mean, daddy? Well, son, it means: 1. Qualifying. 2. Not losing to Georgia. 3. Beating England. 4. Going out at 1/4 final stage but taking heart from the fact that we have “learned a lot from this experience” and being on a “steep learning curve.” But does success not mean winning, daddy? Ah no, son. Only if you’re from New Zealand.