Liverpool 0 Burnley 1: Ashley Barnes penalty ends Reds’ incredible 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield in Prem
IT is such a shame the pubs are not open. Particularly for Ashley Barnes.
Because he would have been able to walk into any boozer in Manchester today – or even Leicester – and got absolutely hammered without shelling out a penny.
Barnes scored the goal to not only send Liverpool to their first defeat in 69 games at Anfield but to widen the cracks which are now clear to see.
And to blow the title race open. What a massive result at both ends. This season just keeps on giving.
Just when we thought it would be the defensive issues that led to their downfall, Liverpool have now gone 438 minutes without a goal.
On a sorry night for Jurgen Klopp, it was obvious that the pressure has got to him. He ended up in a blazing half-time row with Sean Dyche. Had the dispute turned into a proper scrap, the smart money would have been on a win for Kettering’s finest.
But no-one would have expected Dyche to finish the match with a famous victory.
Yet the fact Liverpool’s manager turned into a gibbering, finger-jabbing nutter as he chased Dyche down the tunnel on the strike of half-time was the clearest proof yet that the German boss is really feeling the heat.
The champions are currently toothless. They have lost their mojo. It is not a full-blown crisis but there is now room for panic at Anfield.
It is not a surprise that they have struggled defensively due to the rotten luck they have suffered with injuries. The biggest surprise is that going forward, they have run out of ideas. Something is not clicking.
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The quality is not there and all of a sudden, Liverpool offensively look a bit ordinary. And how Manchester United fans in particular, who are savouring an unlikely title challenge, are loving this.
Also, fair play to Burnley. Led by Ben Mee at the back and helped by the brilliant Nick Pope in goal.
Klopp’s frustration boiled at the end of the first half as he shouted and screamed at Dyche moments after some tangling on the pitch between Fabinho and Ashley Barnes.
Ashley Barnes went down after a collision with Fabinho, Ashley Westwood tried to confront the the Brazilian and had to be dragged away by Andy Robertson
Barnes, who appeared to kick out after the minor foul, was already on a booking while it was only Fabinho who got the caution.
Klopp made three changes from the 0-0 draw with Manchester United but it did not make much of a difference.
The plan was to keep Jordan Henderson alongside Fabinho at the back but a minor issue to the skipper allowed the return of the fit-again Joel Matip.
Considering the mini goal drought, it was not a major surprise to see the front three broken up with Bobby Firmino and Mo Salah, the Premier League’s top scorer, starting on the bench although they were introduced before the hour.
Alisson saved Liverpool with a couple of important saves against United on Sunday and he also rushed off his line to throw himself to block a shot from Barnes.
Alisson was maybe to blame for failing to gather the ball in the first place from Chris Wood but it was still some admirably brave goalkeeping from the Brazilian who can lay claim to being the best number one in the world,
Xherdan Shaqiri sent a shot flashing wide and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who did not look at his sharpest and still needs more games. hammered an effort straight at Nick Pope.
The England keeper also kept out a couple of drives from Divock Origi but Liverpool struggled to create anything out of the ordinary and all those chances came from outside the box.
The best chance of the game came before the break when the otherwise impressive Mee made a complete mess of a pass back to his keeper. Divock Origi was clean through with plenty of time and from the edge of the area, hammered the ball against the woodwork.
This contest exploded into life on half-time with Dyche having already had words with the fourth official. Liverpool continued their pressure in the second half and Pope delivered a good save at the near post from Alexander-Arnold .
Just before the hour, Klopp brought on Salah and Firmino. And Pope delivered his best save to deny Salah as the frustrations grew.
Burley had run out of ideas and incredibly and then with seven minutes left took the lead.
Barnes wriggled clear of Fabinho and was brought down by Alisson. The Burnley man duly stuck away the penalty.
Normally, the chance to get away from the Premier League would be a welcome distraction. But the problem is they go to Old Trafford in the fourth round on Sunday.
And after that, Klopp’s lot have to play Tottenham. But right now for Liverpool, things cannot get any worse.
The title really is slipping away. If they keep playing like this, the fight will be just to reach the top four.