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After 1,369 days and 68 matches, Liverpool’s undefeated league record at Anfield fell in a 1-0 loss to Burnley as their division scoreless streak extended to four straight games for the first time since the season. 1999/00.
Ashley Barnes didn’t need an invitation to run down time when Alisson, making minimal contact, ran out of line and slipped inside.
The forward converted the penalty at 83 ‘on the clock to exacerbate Liverpool’s lousy run and take away the air of invincibility at Anfield.
Sean Dyche’s chief obstructionists were probably the last opponents the champions would have opted for Thursday night given their misery in front of goal.
When the defensive light finally greeted Liverpool with Joel Matip returning to the starting lineup and substitute left-back Kostas Tsimikas among the substitutes, there was more darkness for injuries.
Captain Jordan Henderson, who had been in the center of defense, was not with a groin problem.
In an effort to share the workload and refresh an XI who failed to score in their last three league games, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi were introduced by rested Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Having scored seven of their 14 shots against Crystal Palace, prior to kick-off, Liverpool had scored just one goal out of 62 attempts in their last four top-flight games, a conversion rate of 1.6 percent. .
An aggressive start on possession was required to remedy that trend, yet he told the story from the first half that the biggest entertainment came not in the last third, but during a tunnel row between Jurgen Klopp and Dyche before the break.
When that materialized, captured briefly on the cameras, it all started on the field after a fight between Fabinho and Barnes.
A challenge from Fabinho just before the break led to a meeting between both sets of players
(Fake images)
Pushing, swearing and protesting from both sides to referee Mike Dean were part of the chaos, and in the midst of it, nothing came of a VAR check for a possible red card against the Brazilian international.
The first 45 consisted mainly of Liverpool shooting from afar and getting frustrated by making poor decisions.
Pope worked early on when he produced a good reaction to thwart Sadio Mane’s header from a corner. When the ball hit the area, and under pressure from Fabinho, the visiting goalkeeper deflected the danger.
At the other end, Alisson dropped his catch, with Chris Wood making life difficult for the Brazilian. The loose ball fell to Barnes on the edge of the box and fired a shot that the Liverpool No. 1 recovered magnificently to block.
After speculative blows from Xherdan Shaqiri and Oxlade-Chamberlain, the hosts put together a good set-up game through a skillful double between Gini Wijnaldum and Thiago.
From the left, Thiago changed the game with a curling iron towards Trent Alexander-Arnold and the right-back directed the ball low and hard into the center of the area, where Origi waited to connect. Ben Mee excellently avoided that situation by hooking.
The closing of the middle brought a contrasting scene. Mee hit the ball and was the last man for Burnley, prompting Origi to shoot out.
Facing Pope one-on-one, he passed the goalie aside, but his upward blow hit the wood.
Divock Origi missed a fantastic opportunity one by one
(POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
In the 56th minute, Firmino and Salah replaced Origi and Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the Egyptian had an immediate impact.
Wijnaldum, sporting the bracelet, drew a clever diagonal to the edge of the case.
He provided the ball to Salah, who aimed for the bottom right, but was denied when Pope took the effort away.
Liverpool worked half chances and wanted a penalty when an Alexander-Arnold cross hit Erik Pieters in the arm, but neither Dean nor VAR moved.
The penalty was awarded at the other end after Barnes ran past Fabinho, forcing Alisson to run out and intervene.
There was a low shot from Alexander-Arnold from the right that found Firmino, who shot towards the goal, but the ball deflected from Mee and Liverpool were deflated.
