Reds cruise to comfortable victory over Clarets

Goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane helped Liverpool see-off a stubborn Burnley side to temporarily go top of the table in front a full capacity crowd at Anfield.

 The Reds came into this fixture in full confidence having started off the season with an impressive 3-0 victory over newly promoted Norwich in their opening game of the campaign.

The visitors arrived at Anfield having been undefeated in their previous two trips to the red half of Merseyside, but were looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Brighton.

Burnley started the game on the front foot, clearly not feeling intimidated by the Anfield crowd as Ashley Barnes soared a header just wide of the crossbar to mark the game’s first real opportunity.

It was the home side however who dominated the possession and it finally paid off when in the 18th minute Portuguese midfielder Diogo Jota headed in from a pinpoint cross from new signing Konstantinos Tsimikas to make it 1-0.

This opener did not seem to dishearten the Clarets who continued to press the Liverpool defence with the returning Virgil Van Dijk, and the visitors thought they had equalised early into the second half when Ashley Barnes tapped in from close range, following a Dwight McNeil cross, but it was ruled out for a clear offside.

The Reds continued to soak up the pressure defensively much to the credit of Van Dijk and Tsimkas who both had good games at the back.

Liverpool however started to show their superiority and as the visitors started to tire the Reds added a second when sloppy play from Burnley at the back led to full-back Alexander Arnold feeding the ball into the path of Mane to make it 2-0 with just over 20 minutes to play.

The win makes it two-in-two for Jurgen Klopp’s men who temporarily top the table, leaving Burnley with two defeats in their opening two.

Liverpool will face in-form Chelsea next Saturday at Anfield, while Burnley travel take on Leeds at home next Sunday in the league.