Liverpool 1 - 1 Burnley

Liverpool: Robertson 33’
Burnley: Rodriguez 69’

Pre-Match

Neco Williams picks up another start, this time on the other side, giving Trent Alexander-Arnold a break. Scouse Legend-in-the-making Curtis Jones also starts the game. All of these remaining matches are about securing their legacy. Every point is one closer to making them the best ever.

First Half

Liverpool get the bulk of the possession in the first 10 minutes of the game. Sadio Mane gets a shot off in the box, but he played it off his arm and it was blocked anyway.

16 minutes in, Mane and Roberto Firmino engineer an opportunity for Jones, but he doesn’t connect well and the shot is easily collected. Seconds later, Nick Pope denies Mohamed Salah’s excellent volley with a commanding save.

It’s all Liverpool here, but so far Burnley’s defense has been up to the task. The Reds, especially Golden Boot hopeful Salah, look absolutely desperate for it.

It takes 25 minutes for Burnley to get their first corner, and it requires the help of Virgil van Dijk’s giant, handsome forehead to get Liverpool out of trouble.

This game is rapidly becoming a deathmatch between Nick Pope and Mo Salah. So far, Pope has been up to the challenge, but Salah wants his 20th.

GOAL!!! Robertson 33’- And just as I say that, Fabinho passes a beautiful ball right to the head of Andy Robertson, who rockets the ball away from Pope and into the far corner. Just a gorgeously taken header that no keeper on the planet could have stopped.

Burnley turn on the burners at the end of the half, grabbing two corners in a row. Alisson punches both attempts away, and Liverpool avoid trouble. In response, they attack on the break, and it’s Robertson again who slides a perfect ball across the face of the box, but Salah is a few steps too far to tap it into the net.

With the last touch of the game, Mane nearly scores Liverpool’s second, assisted by Salah, but again Pope saves the day and the whistle blows for halftime.

Second Half

Is Firmino cursed? The second half starts with a perfect opportunity for him to end his Anfield goal drought, but his low, angled shot pings off the woodwork on the far side.

Curtis Jones is hungry for another Premier League goal, but it’s made him a bit selfish in the next attack, choosing to shoot on his own instead of feeding Salah.

It seems as though every Liverpool player has had a chance in the early stages of the second half, but that elusive second goal still hasn’t come. Salah has resorted to staring down at the pitch in betrayal, as if the blades of grass themselves are conspiring against him.

Goal :( Rodriguez 69’ - It’s a set piece that gets Liverpool this time, completely against the run of play, and now this game is tied.

The equalizer has put Liverpool on the back foot. They’re overhitting their passes and getting a little impatient in possession the way they hadn’t in the first half. The Reds have 15 minutes to regain their lead here.

The referee seems intent on not calling any fouls — and especially not an penalties. Cool, that’s a choice, I guess. Wasn’t VAR supposed to help with this?

Nervy moments when Burnley have a corner and the shot slams off the crossbar, barely denying them the winner.

Final Thoughts

Well, that happened. And it wasn’t great. But Liverpool Football Club are still Premier League Champions, so whatever, Sean Dyche.