Liverpool would have most well-liked a extra simple afternoon however their 1-0 win at Burnley might show the best warmup for Wednesday’s conflict with Atletico Madrid.
Burnley 0-1 Liverpool
Premier League (4) | Turf MoorSeptember 14, 2025
Purpose: Salah pen 90+5′
1. Think about being an Arsenal fan
Rational evaluation of what unfolded at Turf Moor can wait a second – simply take a second as an alternative to think about you had been a supporter of a staff hoping to rival Liverpool for the Premier League this season watching that recreation.
Lastly, it seemed just like the luck would run out, and people flaws evident throughout the opening three fixtures had been finally going to be uncovered.
And certainly, you’d assume, it wouldn’t be lengthy till these points had been constantly leading to dropped factors, permitting one other staff to cost into high spot.
However by some means, Liverpool pulled off their acquainted trick but once more, discovering a late winner in fortuitous circumstances as soon as once more to ship distant controls hurling at televisions all throughout the nation.
Finally, hate-watching Liverpool is simply not a worthwhile pastime as of late.
2. Reds’ assault isn’t fairly proper
That it got here to Liverpool needing a late, late winner owed a lot to the truth that they as soon as once more confirmed a weak spot that was maybe going below the radar throughout the three video games.
The Reds might have gone into the primary worldwide break because the league’s high scorers with eight targets, however they’d managed that from simply 3.4xG – an unsustainable return.
And as a lot may very well be seen right here of their failure to interrupt down Burnley‘s low block, with simply three photographs on the right track having been taken earlier than Mohamed Salah‘s penalty.
It’s clear that the modifications made up high this summer season imply it will take some time for issues to actually click on within the last third.
Arne Slot can solely hope that occurs rapidly, and that his staff proceed to choose up three factors regardless within the meantime.
3. Kerkez sub no actual shock
Slot proved in his first aggressive recreation as Liverpool supervisor that he wasn’t afraid to make robust choices, hauling Jarell Quansah off at half-time at Ipswich.
Nevertheless it nonetheless felt like a shock to see the Dutchman be fairly so ruthless with Milos Kerkez right here, not even ready till the break to interchange him with Andy Robertson.
That stated, there might be no doubting it was the fitting name given the Hungarian had picked up a useless reserving with a dive and seemed primed for an additional as a part of a rash show.
In fact, that’s disappointing, but it surely actually shouldn’t be forgotten that regardless of Kerkez’s robust begin to life at Liverpool, he’s nonetheless solely 21 years previous.
As such, there could also be additional events this season the place he’s pulled out of the firing line and Robertson’s expertise is most well-liked.
4. Konate and Van Dijk colossal
Liverpool wouldn’t have been within the place to mount a late smash-and-grab had it not been for the truth that they’d so relentlessly penned Burnley in all through the 90 minutes.
And key to that had been the performances of centre-half pairing Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, who placed on a colossal efficiency up towards a bodily, direct staff in windy circumstances.
Konate gained extra duels (14) than some other participant on the pitch, whereas Van Dijk wasn’t too far behind with 10.
That offered a platform for the Reds to not give Burnley a sniff and declare the clear sheet that set them as much as win it.
5. Nice preparation for Atletico
In fact Liverpool will now flip their attentions to the Champions League and a midweek assembly with Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
However Slot may arguably not have requested for higher preparation for that recreation than arising towards the decided low block Burnley provided right here.
Atletico are masters of these ways and can look to frustrate Liverpool in the same method, and it’s arduous to think about them sneaking a win ought to they get simply 4 of 27 photographs on the right track once more.
Nonetheless, if they’re in search of a solution to that drawback, then having Alexander Isak on the bench can be no dangerous factor.
