Burnley 1, Liverpool 2: First Thoughts

Burnley 1: Gudmundsson 88’
Liverpool 2: Mane 61’, Klavan 90+4

• Pre-match Thought: Well. It certainly is a conspicuous time for Philippe Coutinho to pick up a knock. Hopefully it isn’t another “back injury” type situation. Anyway, Mohamed Salah also drops from a knock picked up against Leicester City (they only fouled him every time he looked at the ball), but both are expected to return in time to beat the Toffees in the FA Cup. In other news, Joe Gomez appears to be starting at leftback (or in a back three, time will tell), and Adam Lallana makes a return to the starting XI after a long way back from injury. A win puts us level on points with United, which is just fine by me.
• A bad give-away in the Burnley half nearly creates a chance for the home side, but Barnes is just offside.
• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the first Liverpool player to really test the keeper, unleashing a venomous low shot from outside the box, forcing a good save.
• Adam Lallana makes a fantastic last-ditch tackle to stop a quick Burnley counter. Had he mis-timed it, it could have been a straight red. Welcome back, Adam.
• Another poor give-away from Emre Can leads to yet another Burnley chance. They manage to put a weak header on target, but Simon Mignolet was there to gather it.
• Half-an-hour gone, and Liverpool can so far only manage pot-shots from outside the box. So far Ox, Gini, Lallana, and Mane have all tried their luck from distance, with only Oxlade-Chamberlain managing to test the keeper.
• Dominic Solanke is as surprised as anyone to find himself played through in front of goal. In his confusion, he forgot to take a shot, and the chance was quickly gone.
• #6,583 terrifying moment at the back this season. Burnley put in a dangerous cross and Ragnar Klavan very nearly turns it in for an own goal. On balance, it must be said that Burnley have had the better chances so far.
• Halftime Thought: It’s a dogshit, horrible day at Turf Moor and the football matches the atmosphere. Liverpool are living dangerously on defense (normal) whilst not creating much going forward (not normal). We’re definitely missing Mo, Phil, and Bobby out there, but only the latter is available off the bench. Klopp probably needs a personnel and/or tactics shack up to tip the match in our favor.
• Pretty boring first 15 minutes of the second half. That’s all I have to say about that.
• GOAL! ...and then THAT happened. Liverpool needed a bit of luck to move the bus, and they got exactly that. Ox picked up the ball at midfield and picked out Trent Alexander-Arnold’s run out wide. The youngster’s cross was deflected, but fell to Sadio Mane, who took a touch and fired it home from about 14 yards.
• Kloppo makes his first change, Roberto Firmino coming on for Mane. Give ‘em hell, Bobby.
• Alexander-Arnold isn’t finished today. He nearly found the top corner with a screamer from distance. Worthy of a goal, but the keeper was up to the challenge.
• Something seems to be wrong with the clock since we scored. It’s going way too slow.
• Burnely with another narrow miss as the clock ticks into the final ten minutes of regular time. Hold on to your butts.
• Ox nearly makes it two! Solanke picks him out in the box, but the former Arsenal man’s shot is saved at the near post.
• Two tired teams, and the game has become very open. Burnley go close again with a Vokes header, but Mignolet was there to cover.
• James Milner comes on for Lallana. It was a good return for the long-injured midfielder, and his first half tackle saved a likely goal for the home side.
• Goal. Fuck. Joe Gomez is caught ball watching at the far post, and Vokes flicks on for an easy headed finish for Gudmundsson.
• GOAL!! Dejan Lovren finds Ragnar Klavan at the back post on a set play late in stoppage time for an apparent late winner! Up the REDS!
• Final Whistle Thought: Holiday football is the worst and I hate it.

We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.