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Liverpool were forced to settle for a frustrating 1–1 draw against Burnley at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, a game that told a familiar story of dominance without full reward. Arne Slot’s side controlled large spells, created plenty of chances, and led at the break through Florian Wirtz, but Burnley stayed alive and punished wastefulness to leave Merseyside with a hard-earned point.
It was a match Liverpool should have wrapped up long before the final whistle. Instead, missed opportunities, a saved penalty, and a stubborn Burnley display ensured the points were shared.
Fast Start and Total Control from Liverpool
From the opening whistle, Liverpool set the tone. Burnley dropped deep into a compact low block, clearly prepared to soak up pressure and frustrate the home crowd. The Reds responded with patience and purpose, moving the ball quickly and stretching play across the width of the pitch.
Milos Kerkez was heavily involved early on and produced one of the game’s first clear openings. The left-back surged past Marcus Edwards, exchanged passes neatly with Dominik Szoboszlai, and delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Curtis Jones was waiting at the back post, but a last-ditch Burnley clearance denied Liverpool a deserved opener. That moment summed up the opening half-hour. Liverpool probed relentlessly, while Burnley defended in numbers and relied on blocks and clearances to survive.
Penalty Drama as Szoboszlai Hits the Bar
As pressure mounted, Liverpool finally earned what looked like a golden chance to break the deadlock. Cody Gakpo was fouled inside the penalty area as he tried to cut inside from the left, leaving the referee with little choice but to point to the spot.
Anfield held its breath as Szoboszlai stepped up. The Hungarian midfielder struck the ball cleanly, but agonisingly, his effort cannoned off the crossbar and bounced away. It was a huge let-off for Burnley and a moment that would loom large as the match wore on.
Despite that setback, Liverpool did not lose focus. Shots from Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Ryan Gravenberch, and Jeremie Frimpong kept Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka busy. By half-time, Liverpool had already racked up 15 attempts on goal, a clear reflection of their dominance.
Wirtz Breaks the Deadlock Before the Break
The breakthrough finally arrived in the closing stages of the first half, and it was a goal that highlighted Liverpool’s quality and persistence.
Virgil van Dijk picked out Hugo Ekitike with a long, accurate pass. The forward showed superb control to bring the ball down, then powered his way towards the byline. His tight-angle shot was saved by Dubravka, but Burnley could not clear their lines.
Curtis Jones reacted quickest, collecting the loose ball and calmly laying it off for Wirtz. The German playmaker made no mistake, drilling a fierce shot high into the net to give Liverpool a fully deserved 1–0 lead. It was Wirtz’s fourth goal in six appearances and another reminder of his growing influence in Slot’s system.
Second-Half Pressure and Missed Opportunities
Liverpool emerged for the second half with clear intent to kill the game. Wirtz nearly doubled his tally after combining smartly with Szoboszlai, only for Dubravka to rush off his line and smother the chance.
Moments later, Wirtz drifted into space inside the box and squared the ball to Gakpo, who beat the goalkeeper with his finish. Just when Anfield thought the lead had been extended, Maxime Esteve produced a superb goalline clearance to deny Liverpool again. Those misses proved costly. While Liverpool continued to control possession, Burnley slowly began to find their feet and showed they were not prepared to simply accept defeat.
Edwards Punishes Liverpool Lapse
Just past the hour mark, the balance of the match shifted. Alisson Becker was first called into serious action after Ibrahima Konate inadvertently deflected a cross towards his own goal, but the Brazilian goalkeeper reacted sharply to keep Liverpool ahead. That warning went unheeded. Minutes later, Burnley struck.
Marcus Edwards was released through the inside-left channel and, with space opening up in front of him, took full advantage. He drove forward and fired a low, powerful shot across Alisson into the far bottom corner to level the score at 1–1. Against the run of play, Burnley were back in the game, and the atmosphere inside Anfield turned from confidence to anxiety.
Late Drama and Disallowed Goal
Liverpool responded immediately and thought they had reclaimed the lead in the 77th minute. Hugo Ekitike pounced from close range after another scramble in the Burnley box, only for the assistant referee’s flag to cut short the celebrations. The forward was judged to be offside, a decision that summed up Liverpool’s afternoon.
Arne Slot turned to his bench, introducing Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, and young Rio Ngumoha in a triple substitution aimed at injecting fresh energy. Mac Allister almost made an instant impact, meeting a chance on the edge of the box but sending his effort just over the bar. Federico Chiesa was also introduced late on as Liverpool threw everything forward in search of a winner.
Burnley Hold Firm Under Late Pressure
The final minutes were played almost entirely in Burnley’s half. Crosses were delivered, shots were blocked, and Dubravka was kept busy, but the Clarets refused to buckle.
Despite a late wave of pressure and a roaring Anfield crowd urging their side on, Liverpool could not find the decisive goal. When the final whistle blew, Burnley celebrated a point earned through resilience and opportunism, while Liverpool were left to rue what might have been.
Team News and Key Performers
Arne Slot made six changes from the FA Cup win over Barnsley, with Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konate, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz all returning to the starting lineup.
Wirtz stood out as Liverpool’s most creative force, constantly finding pockets of space and capping his display with a well-taken goal. Ekitike impressed with his hold-up play and movement, while Kerkez provided energy and threat down the left flank. For Burnley, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was pivotal, making several key saves and organising his defence effectively.
What the Draw Means for Liverpool
This 1–1 draw will feel like two points dropped for Liverpool. The performance was largely encouraging, especially in attack, but the lack of clinical finishing proved costly. In a tightly contested Premier League season, games like this can make a real difference.
Still, there were positives to take. Liverpool’s control, chance creation, and overall structure under Slot continue to show promise. If they can turn dominance into goals more consistently, results will follow. For now, though, this was an afternoon where Liverpool did almost everything right, except the one thing that matters most.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com