Nunez helps Liverpool reclaim top spot

Striker Darwin Nunez sealed a 3-1 win for Liverpool against Premier League penultimate team Burnley in round 24.

Returning to Anfield after a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal, Liverpool were expected to destroy Burnley. However, the match did not go according to plan. Jurgen Klopp's men scored first through Diogo Jota's header from Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner, but before that, Burnley were the better team.

Dara O'Shea headed into the corner, leaving Kelleher helpless in Burnley's 1-1 equalizer. Photo: Reuters

Vincent Kompany's side had at least three dangerous shots. Zeki Amdouni twice tested Caoimhin Kelleher, who replaced Alisson Becker. David Datro Fofana hit the top of the home team's crossbar as Kelleher was high up the pitch.

Liverpool took the better of their chances. They opened the scoring with their first shot on target, taking advantage of a run from James Trafford that failed to meet the ball. The Burnley goalkeeper then made amends by blocking Luis Diaz's close-range effort, preventing the hosts from doubling their lead.

But while the attack was not yet warmed up, Liverpool's defense did not bring a sense of security. In a corner kick situation at the end of the first half of Burnley, Wataru Endo lost the aerial battle with Dara O'Shea and sadly watched the away team's center back head into the corner A, giving Kelleher no chance to block. This was Endo's first match on the field after returning from the Asian Cup.

Diaz punches the Burnley net to share joy with fans after raising the score to 2-1 for Liverpool. Photo: AP

Klopp was unhappy with the way his players defended in the first half. Immediately after the break, he took Alexander-Arnold off the pitch and replaced him with Harvey Elliott. This was the second consecutive match that Liverpool's mainstay right-back had left the pitch early. In the defeat to Arsenal, he only played 58 minutes. This raised suspicions that Klopp was gradually favoring Conor Bradley at right-back. The player born in 2003 scored and assisted twice in the 4-1 win over Chelsea on January 31 but has been absent recently due to the death of his father.

Klopp's calculations worked, though. Elliott assisted both Liverpool goals in the second half. In the 52nd minute, his cross allowed Diaz to dive and head home. After scoring, the Colombian repeatedly punched the Burnley net to celebrate. Diaz is also in good form, scoring and assisting against Chelsea.

Kompany was furious when Liverpool's goal was awarded. The Burnley manager thought the referee had overlooked Alexis Mac Allister's foul on Aaron Ramsey earlier. But VAR only checked to see if Elliott was offside. Kompany was booked for arguing so fiercely with the referee.

Nunez headed home to seal a 3-1 win for Liverpool over Burnley. Photo: Reuters

The home fans had a scare in the 67th minute. Liverpool's defence let Fofana slip through, but luckily for them the Ivorian striker shot wide in a one-on-one with Kelleher. On the other side of the goal, after Jota squandered a chance to shoot from his favourite angle, Nunez stepped up to help the home side secure the win. The Uruguayan striker headed home from close range after a left-footed cross from Elliott.

Before failing to score in the defeat to Arsenal, Nunez had scored or assisted in four consecutive Premier League matches. His form has helped Liverpool ease the pain of missing Mohamed Salah. However, Nunez's finishing ability is still a difficult problem for Klopp. Because in the extra minutes, the striker born in 1999 had a chance to face, but his shot hit Trafford.

The win puts Liverpool back on top of the table, two points ahead of Manchester City, but with a game in hand. Liverpool next travel to Brentford on February 17 and then face Luton on February 21.

Quang Huy

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