Burnley 0-3 Liverpool
You need an array of characteristics to challenge for a Premier League title.
Among them: skill, bravery, athleticism, doggedness and, of course, luck.
Right now, pacesetters Liverpool seem to have all those traits in abundance.
This early evening clash at Turf Moor was yet another example from the early leaders.
A club-record 13th successive top-flight win as boss Jurgen Klopp surpassed the record of those each achieved by the legendary duo of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish in 1990.
Highlights of the game
Just as they were too much for Arsenal this time last weekend, the Merseysiders were also too strong for the Clarets on their own turf.
In fairness, it didn’t always seem this way as the spirited hosts, who impressed in their first home match of the season, more than held their own for half an hour.
Early on, Adrian had to tip away a Chris Wood shot from an angle. And while Mo Salah left the post shaking soon afterwards, Sean Dyche’s men were making life difficult for the European champions, who were being closed down at every available opportunity.
Nick Pope had to be alert to stop Salah when the Egyptian was played clean through. But Burnley were largely keeping their opponents at bay until two goals in four minutes changed the contest completely.
Whether full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold was intending to score is doubtful, but as he aimed for the far post in the 33rd minute, the ball hit Wood and looped over Pope straight into the back of the net.
Burnley were stunned and within four minutes fell further behind as Liverpool displayed the ruthlessness of a top team.
Ben Mee made a rare mistake as his under-hit pass was intercepted by Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian swiftly countered before finding Sadio Mane, whose finish was as clinical as it was composed.
At this point, the SBOBET Premier League 2019 betting odds on a home comeback were near non-existence.
It wasn’t for lack of effort from Ashley Barnes, who was aiming to become the first Burnley player to net in five consecutive Premier League matches and the first to score in five successive top-flight matches since Ray Pointer in 1962.
Barnes, Wood and Jack Cork all tried to create opportunities in the closing stages of the half, but the stuffing had been well and truly knocked out of them.
Liverpool applied the final touch to their win nine minutes from time as Firmino finished a move he started. He played a one-two with Salah before smashing an unstoppable drive into the back of the net.
Yes, they needed a bit of luck initially, but there was no denying Liverpool as they eased to equalling the club’s top-flight record of six consecutive away victories. It’s a sequence they have recorded on three previous occasions themselves, most recently from February to April 2014.
After creating Premier League 2019 highlights along the way, there is certainly nothing lucky about their record of one defeat in their last 43 league matches, winning 112 of 129 points available (won 35, drawn seven, lost one).
A title-winning trait? We shall see.
Key statistics
Since the start of last season, no Liverpool player has scored more goals in all competitions than Mane (30 – level with Salah).
Firmino has become the first Brazilian to score 50 Premier League goals; he is the ninth player to reach the milestone for Liverpool. No other club has had more (level with Man Utd).
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League games played in August, winning the last nine in a row. The last team to beat them in August were Burnley in 2016.
Burnley have won just two of their last 17 matches against Liverpool in all competitions.
The Clarets have picked up just four points from a possible 33 in Premier League games versus the Reds. They have also won just one of their last eight Premier League matches.
Barnes has 13 Premier League goals in 2019 — only Sergio Aguero (18) and Mane (16) have more. He has scored 42% of their league goals in 2019 (13 of 31).
Since his debut in August 2014, Barnes is one of just five players to have scored a Premier League goal against all of the established top-six sides (the others are Mane, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jamie Vardy and Georginio Wijnaldum).
A third of Barnes’ top-flight goals have come against ‘Big Six’ opposition (12 of 36).
What’s next?
Burnley are away on the south coast next when they travel to Brighton. Meanwhile, Liverpool entertain Newcastle on the same day (September 14).
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