Liverpool have repelled Manchester City's attack on top spot in the Premier League. Manager Jürgen Klopp's team won, albeit with difficulty, 3-1 against number nineteen Burnley on Saturday. Liverpool is now two points (54 to 52) above Manchester City, already have the Citizens played one game less. There were 59,896 spectators present at Anfield, a new competition record.

Virgil van Dijk, who played his 250th game in the Premier League, had a starting place at Liverpool, with Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch on the bench. Alisson Becker, who blunders against Arsenal last week, was ill and was replaced by Caoimhín Kelleher. Joe Gomez, who was also ill, was relieved by Jarell Quansah. Darwin Núñez was flanked in the front by Diogo Jota (right) and Luis Díaz (left). Mohamed Salah was still missing due to his participation in the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.

In the initial phase, Liverpool could not really make a fist against Burnley, who defended in a grouped manner and held their ground fairly easily at Anfield. Somewhat out of nowhere, the relegation candidate, trained by Vincent Kompany, was behind. A corner from the right went past goalkeeper James Trafford, allowing Jota to head in quite easily: 1-0.

Everyone at Burnley misses the corner kick and so Jota scores: 1-0 ?? ??????? ??????? ? ?? Liverpool ????. Burnley ?? https://t.co/Zm6NDx5Jk3#ViaplaySportNL #ViaplayFootball #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/aWdCZgvk0U

— Viaplay Sport Nederland (@viaplaysportnl) February 10, 2024

Burnley, which desperately needs the points in the fight against relegation, straightened out and cleared the deficit before half-time. Dara O'Shea towered above everyone and beautifully converted a corner kick from the right into a goal. So an equal score at the halfway point for Liverpool, who knew that title rival Manchester City had won 2-0 against Everton.

Liverpool did not get off to a good start in the second half, but the scoreboard still showed 2-1 after 51 minutes. A cross from Harvey Elliott was expertly headed in by Díaz from close range. A VAR check followed due to an alleged foul by Alexis Mac Allister and possible offside by Elliott. The goal of the Reds however, was not deleted.

The home team scored twice well between the 63rd and 66th minute. Datro Fofana shot wide after Liverpool's poor defending and only pushed the ball past the wrong side of the post a few minutes later for Kelleher. On the other hand, good opportunities were wasted on Jota, Van Dijk and Quansah.

Liverpool ended the game more than ten minutes before the end. After a deflected corner, the ball ended up with Elliott, who served Núñez. The striker saw his beautiful header disappear into the right corner: 3-1. In the final phase, Klopp let Gakpo join Liverpool, who can once again call themselves leaders in the Premier League and are now unbeaten in thirty matches in a row at Anfield.

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