Arne Slot had made his wishes clear before kick-off. “We want to do better in making more chances from all the ball possession we have. I am waiting for the moment it really clicks,” he had said. Thirty two shots on goal with 11 on target would suggest Liverpool obliged against Burnley, but Anfield still waits for Slot’s side to click.
Liverpool were held to a fourth consecutive Premier League draw as Marcus Edwards stunned the champions by cancelling out Florian Wirtz’s first half opener. Scott Parker’s visitors were far more enterprising after the interval but Edwards’ fine equaliser came from their only shot on target while Liverpool were left to rue a procession of missed opportunities and careless final balls. Boos greeted the final whistle as Liverpool dropped points yet again.
Burnley posed a familiar puzzle to Liverpool with their deep, five-man defence and block of four midfielders in close attendance. Unlike many contests this season, however, the visitors’ reluctance or inability to break out ensured the first half resembled a training ground exercise of attack versus defence. Armando Broja cut a lonely, isolated figure as sole outlet in the Burnley forward line. Also, unlike recent fixtures, Liverpool appeared to have some answers long before Wirtz opened the scoring shortly before the interval.
With Wirtz and Cody Gakpo offering close support to Hugo Ekitiké, and Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong constantly pressing forward from full-back, Slot’s side stretched Burnley frequently. A Hungarian one-two between Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai opened up the visiting defence from Liverpool’s first meaningful attack. The improving left-back, who delivered another confident display, could have taken on a shot but opted to find the unmarked Curtis Jones at the back post. Lucas Pires denied them both with a fine clearance.
Mainly it was Martin Dubravka who came to Burnley’s aid. The goalkeeper’s first save came from Ekitiké when the France international found space to cut on to his right foot and sweep a low drive towards the far corner. The former Newcastle keeper also thwarted similar efforts from Gakpo and Wirtz as Liverpool took up residence inside the Burnley half.
Slot’s team were gifted a chance to take the lead when awarded a soft penalty by the referee Andrew Madley. Receiving Jones’ pass inside the area, Gakpo turned onto his favoured right foot and straight into Florentino Luís before going down under the challenge. The Burnley midfielder was in close proximity to Gakpo and could do little about the ensuing collision, but he did catch Gakpo with his knee. The visitors unsurprisingly raged against the decision and would consider justice done when Szoboszlai smacked the spot-kick against the crossbar.
Szoboszlai encapsulated growing frustration among the home fans when gesturing at the lack of movement in front of him. But Liverpool broke the deadlock before dissent could bubble over. When Dubravka saved at his near post from Ekitiké, Jones had the presence of mind to locate Wirtz inside a crowded penalty area. The German playmaker fired an emphatic finish into the top corner through a pack of incoming defenders for his fourth goal in six games. Ekitiké’s part in the breakthrough must be singled out for praise. The forward controlled Virgil van Dijk’s cross-field ball exquisitely before spinning away from both Kyle Walker and Axel Tuanzebe and testing Dubravka from a tight angle. Wirtz was the ultimate beneficiary of his dazzling turn.
Liverpool almost added a second on the break in first-half stoppage time only for Maxime Estève to intervene with a superb challenge. It never felt so at the time, but how pivotal a moment that proved to be.
Burnley had to show more commitment to attack in the second half. They would be surrendering to defeat without a fight if they did not. And Parker’s side delivered.
Liverpool remained the dominant force and went close to doubling their advantage several times before being stung by the equaliser. Dubravka denied Wirtz at close range when the goalscorer was played through on goal by Szoboszlai. Bashir Humphreys then made a vital goalline clearance after Wirtz had slalomed between two Burnley defenders and flicked open a chance for Gakpo.
But the visitors served notice of their newfound intent when Edwards broke clear on the right and attempted to find Jaidon Anthony unmarked in front of goal. Ibrahima Konaté, lunging to intercept, almost converted into his own net but Alisson reacted sharply to scoop clear. Moments later, and to Anfield’s general astonishment, Burnley were level. Luís prised open a static Liverpool defence with a fine pass into Edwards who, in space on the left of the area, rifled a powerful finish beyond Alisson and into the far corner.
Liverpool besieged the Burnley penalty box as they strove to regain the lead. Humphreys made another goalline clearance to deny Gakpo, Ekitiké had a goal disallowed when coming back from an offside position to convert a Van Dijk header and Alexis Mac Allister sliced badly wide seconds after his introduction from the bench. Jones was left in despair when he dragged a shot across the face of goal and Ekitiké just failed to connect in front of an open goal. Anfield would end up feeling the same.