Liverpool 4-2 Burnley: Player ratings as the Reds move back to within a point of Man City

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  • Sadio Mane

    Through wind, rain, sleet plus a fortuitous opener for Burnley, Liverpool recovered from a goal down to move back to within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester City with a 4-2 win on Sunday.

    Ashley Westwood stunned the Anfield crowd when his corner, with assistance from some slack officiating and the gusty conditions, curled straight in to give Burnley a sixth-minute lead.

    Liverpool surged forward in search of an equaliser and it arrived following good work from Mohamed Salah who crossed for Roberto Firmino to tap home 13 minute later.

    Sadio Mane put the Reds in front with a fine finish before the half-hour mark. Firmino was gifted his second after the break to help Liverpool pull away. Mane missed from a yard out but did grab his second as well after substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson had initially made it 3-2 in injury time.

    Here, we rate the Liverpool players after securing a crucial three points.

    LIVERPOOL 4-3-3

    Alisson 6 – Was offered zero protection from the referee when grappled by two Burnley players as Ashley Westwood’s corner floated in. Was otherwise assured despite the chaotic conditions.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold 5 – Struggled to contain the tricky wideman Dwight McNeil after the break and it restricted his influence going forward. Needed the assistance of Van Dijk to quell the threat.

    Joel Matip 5 – Innocuous errors are the ones which can cost teams and Matip’s uncontested headed clearance because of poor communication led to the opener. Recovered decently enough to help blanket Burnely’s two burly forwards.

    Virgil van Dijk 7 – Remarkably untroubled considering the conditions. Classy interventions despite having to adjust his body position to accommodate for the wind. His long diagonal balls out the back were a feature of their play going forward as well.

    Andrew Robertson 6 – Much of Burnley’s counter attacks were funneled down Liverpool’s right so he enjoyed freedom to raid down the left. Lots of energy and always a threat when crossing into the box.

    Georginio Wijnaldum 6 – The game didn’t really require his excellence with play bypassing Liverpool’s midfield, but was typically positive and assertive whenever he did get on it.

    Fabinho 6 – Picked up a yellow card for a recovering tackle but that was his one mistimed intercept because the Brazilian broke up play effectively and used the ball efficiently.

    Adam Lallana 8 – Put in the side by Klopp because he’d trained exceptionally well and that translated on Sunday. Tidy interceptions, showed some neat body feints to protect and then release the ball. Fantastic block on the edge of Burnley’s box which created Mane’s goal. Did tire late on, though.

    Mohamed Salah 7 – Just like in his last home fixture against Watford, was vastly improved on a anonymous away trip. First touch was exemplary, roasted Charlie Taylor whenever he was one v one and his excellent interchange on the right engineered the equaliser. Created the third after Tom Heaton’s poor clearance.

    Roberto Firmino 7 – Two quite fortunate goals, both created by Salah and thanks in part to Burnley blunders. Now 11 league goals which means all of Liverpool’s front three have reached double figures this term.

    Roberto Firmino

    Roberto Firmino

    Sadio Mane 8 – A superb first-time finish to put Liverpool in front and a 15th Premier League goal of the season having scored for the sixth straight home game. Anfield was exhibiting all the elements and Mane mirrored that by heating up and providing ice-cold finishes as he scored his 16th of the season in injury time.

    SUBSTITUTES

    Jordan Henderson 6 – Change in midfield saw Wijnaldum exit and the club captain introduced in the 68th minute to help contain any counter-attacks.

    Naby Keita 6 – Brought on with 15 minutes left to replace Lallana and was tidy in possession.

    Daniel Sturridge N/A – Introduced late on with Alexander-Arnold struggling with a shoulder injury and assisted Mane in injury despite being in an offside position.

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