BURNLEY – 0

LIVERPOOL – 3

BURNLEY’s gutsy display wasn’t enough to prevent them losing 3-0 against Liverpool at Turf Moor.

The Champions of Europe took the lead through a freak goal as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross was deflected and went over the head of Pope. Sadio Mane made it 2-0 before half time.

Roberto Firmino made it three with 10 minutes left to play.

There were chances for both sides in the opening minutes of the game as, firstly, Mohammed Salah received the ball just inside the area and shot first time towards Nick Pope’s near post.

Despite taking the goalkeeper by surprise, he was able to get across and tip the ball on to the post to keep Salah out.

Up the other end, Chris Wood had a chance to put his side in the lead after he cut inside on his left foot and looked to go across Adrian, but the Spaniard was equal to the shot.

Liverpool had much of the possession in the first half, but Burnley dealt with it comfortably and defended well.

The Clarets had a spell of play where they pressured the Liverpool back line with plenty of crosses from their wide men Aaron Lennon and Dwight McNeil.

Liverpool’s opening goal came in the 33rd minutes and it was an unfortunate one for the Clarets to concede as Alexander-Arnold’s cross took a slight deflection off of the back of Wood and the ball dipped over the head of Pope and into the net.

Jurgen Klopp’s men doubled their lead just six minutes later after Ben Mee’s loose pass was intercepted by Firmino on the half way line.

The Brazilian surged forward with Mane and Salah either side of him – he found Mane and he passed the ball beyond Pope and into the far corner.

The second half started with Liverpool controlling much of the possession and Burnley trying their best to disrupt things and find a way back into the game.

McNeil was showing what he can do up against England full-back Alexander-Arnold in what was a good battle.

Burnley struggled to get things going in the second half after conceding the two goals in the first period.

It looked as though they lacked a bit of invention in the midfield as they looked to breach last seasons defence with the most clean sheets.

With 10 minutes to play, the game was sealed after Firmino found the corner with a first time finish from Salah’s pass – there wasn’t much the Burnley defence could do about that.

Burnley stuck to their task throughout the second half, but the goals they conceded in the first period seemed to have taken the wind out of their sails.

Burnley: Pope, Lowton, Mee, Tarkowski, Pieters, Lennon, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Barnes (73’ Rodriguez), Wood

Unused subs: Hart, Taylor, Drinkwater, Vydra, Long

Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson (71’ Oxlade-Chamberlain), Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino (83’ Shaqiri), Mane (83’ Origi)

Unused subs: Kelleher, Milner, Gomez, Lallana