HIGHLIGHTS
— Liverpool's miserable run continued as they were beaten by Burnley at Anfield.
— A controversial late penalty was enough for Sean Dyche's men to take the win.
— Jurgen Klopp's men hadn't been beaten at home since April 2017, a 68-game run.
— Klopp mused that it was 'impossible' for his side to lose, but somehow they did.
— Liverpool may finish out of top four - Souness
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| Divock Origi missed a prime opportunity after he was clean-through on goal in the first half but was denied by the crossbar |
Liverpool suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Burnley on Thursday night, their first loss at Anfield in the league in almost four years.
Jurgen Klopp's side lost at home for the first time since April 2017 as Ashley Barnes' late penalty earned Burnley a 1-0 win, bringing the champions' 68-game unbeaten Premier League run at Anfield to an end.
Liverpool's alarming recent form continued as they failed to score and win for the fourth successive league game. They were once again met by an inspired Nick Pope, but their best chance came in the first half when Divock Origi smashed the crossbar.
The opening period ended in a fiery encounter between both players and managers after a Fabinho tackle on Barnes, raising tensions for the second half. But despite Liverpool's chances, it was a poor challenge from Alisson that sent Barnes over and handed Burnley the match-winning penalty, which the striker converted for his 100th career goal.
It is the first time Burnley have won at Anfield in 46 years and ended Liverpool's unbeaten Anfield run, stretching back to April 2017. The result also leaves the Reds six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United in fourth, while Burnley have gone above Brighton into 16th.
There were flashpoints: Jurgen Klopp dropped Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino and didn’t introduce them until the 57th minute. The manager argued with Sean Dyche in the tunnel after Fabinho and Ashley Barnes could’ve arguably both been sent off for a pre-halftime coming together (Fabinho kicked out at the elbow-raising Barnes).
Liverpool may miss top four:
Souness: 'Some players look shot';
Carragher: 'If the next run of games do not go well then I have no doubt they will be well out of the title race by the middle of February'.
Pundits Graeme Souness and Jamie Carragher have expressed their alarm at Liverpool's slump in form with Carragher warning the reigning Premier League champions could finish out of the top four.
"I cannot remember a time with so many players out of form at the same time," said Carragher.
After facing Manchester United in the FA Cup this weekend, Liverpool's next league fixtures are Tottenham (a), West Ham (a), Brighton (h), Man City (h), and Leicester (a).
"If the next run of games do not go well then I have no doubt they will be well out of the title race by the middle of February, the end of February," said Carragher. "If that happens then Liverpool will be fighting for their lives to be in the Champions League next season."
And former Liverpool captain and manager Souness added: "Jurgen has some hard thinking to do. Some of those players look like they are shot. There is no sparkle about them.
"This will be a real test for these players. Jurgen will now find out what he has in the dressing room."
Table:
Fourth-place Liverpool is now six points off table-leading Manchester United and four behind Manchester City and Leicester City. Man City has played one fewer game and boasts the league’s best points-per-game.
Burnley moves into 16th after adding its 17th, 18th, and 19th points of the season. They entered Thursday on a streak of four-straight 1-0 decisions — three losses and a win. Make it five.
'It is my fault' - Jurgen Klopp:
'It is my fault' Burnley game was impossible to lose, but we did
Jurgen Klopp admits 'it is my fault' for Liverpool's defeat to Burnley which saw 68-game unbeaten Anfield run come crashing down... but insists 'we lost a game which was IMPOSSIBLE to lose' against Sean Dyche's men.
Jurgen Klopp took full responsibility for his side losing to Burnley at Anfield and surrendering their historic run stretching back almost four years, but admitted he thought it was 'impossible' for his side to lose.
Liverpool remained in control throughout the contest on Thursday night and finished the match having had 72 per cent of possession and 27 shots, but were undone by a late penalty converted by Ashley Barnes.
Following the final whistle, Klopp retained his cool but pointed out that he thought a game which had played out in such a way was 'impossible to lose'.
Klopp said: 'We lost the game which I think is pretty impossible to lose but we did it. And that's my fault because my job is to make sure the boys have the right feeling and having the right amount of confidence and they make the right decisions.
'We had the ball a lot, we created some situations it was all ok but in the final moment out decision making is not right at the moment. We need the ball in the right places but then we don't get the shot away.
'I said the same thing last week. The problem is something doesn't work, we need to try harder and make better decisions. But it didn't work out tonight, we have to admit that. Nothing else to say and that's why we lost the game.
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