Premier League Roundup: Liverpool’s long standing home record ruined by Burnley win

Premier League holders Liverpool finally lost a home game for the first time since April 2017 courtesy of an Ashley Barnes’ late penalty that earned Burnley a 1-0 win.

Jurgen Klopp side managed a 68-game unbeaten Premier League run at Anfield before the clarets brought it to an abrupt end on Friday.

Liverpool’s recent form has been alarming and it continued on Friday night as their luck in front of goal worsened.

Liverpool have now failed to score and win for the fourth successive league game with Burnley’s goalie Nick Pope in an inspired form, however, their best chance came in the first half from Divock Origi who hit the crossbar.

The opening period of the match ended with between both players and managers in a fiery encounter after a Fabinho tackle on Barnes.

Liverpool despite having a larger share of chances created was unable to convert and it was a poor challenge from Alisson that sent Barnes over and handed Burnley the match-winning penalty, which the striker converted for his 100th career goal.

Burnley have now won at Anfield for the first time in 46 years which also resulted in ending Liverpool’s unbeaten Anfield run, stretching back to April 2017.

The Reds now find themselves six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United in fourth, while Burnley have gone above Brighton into 16th.

Read More: Premier League: Paul Pogba’s stunner sends Manchester United back to Premier League summit

Watch the highlights of the match below

Managers reactions

Jurgen Klopp said: “The game was impossible to lose, but we did. That’s my fault because it’s my job to make sure the boys have the right feelings, the right amount of confidence and make the right decisions.

“That obviously didn’t work out because we had the ball a lot, created some situations that were OK, but in the final moment or decision-making is not right at the moment, and that’s the problem.

“You have the ball in the right place but then you don’t shoot, you pass. I’m pretty sure I said the same thing last week.

“When you have the problem of something not working you have to try harder, longer and more often and make better decisions. It’s obviously didn’t work out tonight and we have to admit that, there’s nothing else to say about it.

“It’s always my fault, the things that don’t work are my fault, the things that do work are down to the players. Credit to the players because it’s what they make of it.

“We have worked so long together now that if I make clear which movements make sense and will hurt the opponent and we don’t do them, then I have to make it clearer. That’s how it is.”

Sean Dyche of Burnley said: “I think we did the basics very well. Structure of the side, shape of the side, individual diligence. Players doing their jobs when they had to.

“We still needed a bit of luck. Popey has made a good save to his left in the second half. We have seen out certain situations. But I have always believed in the side to find a moment and we found a couple actually. Johan, particularly, getting across the front stick after great play by Dwight McNeil and Barnesy gets a penalty and slots it away very well.

“You are never comfortable, but I have been in the game a long time and you can see the patterns of a game sometimes. The only worry is if a block lands to one of their players or something goes against you. It didn’t feel like that type of a game against a top side.

“It was the will and desire from the defenders and the goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet and the work rate of the two forwards as well. You cannot just defend from the back four, you have to defend from the whole side and I think everyone did that well.”

On the half-time spat with Klopp: “You know when we come to these places, we are allowed to actually fight, we are allowed to try to win. That is all it was. A couple of things got said but nothing out of the normal. It is just two managers fighting for their teams, wanting to win a game. There is nothing wrong with that.”

Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)

• This was Burnley’s second Premier League win away against the reigning champions (also v Chelsea in August 2017). Indeed, since the 2017-18 season, Burnley are the only side with two away league wins over the reigning English champions.
• Liverpool have gone five Premier League games without a win (D3 L2) for only the second time under Jurgen Klopp (also from Jan-Feb 2017).
• Liverpool had 27 shots without scoring against Burnley, the most they have had in a single league match without finding the net since April 2013 vs Reading (28), and most at Anfield since April 2012 vs West Brom (30).
• Since the start of last season, no goalkeeper has made more saves against a single opponent in the Premier League than Burnley’s Nick Pope against Liverpool (19). Pope has made 14 saves in his last two games at Anfield, including six tonight.