Liverpool easily defeated Burnley 2-0 thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and substitute Diogo Jota, moving them to the top of the Premier League standings.
Nunez’s goal in the sixth minute snapped a 12-match goal drought across all competitions, and Jota’s goal in the 90th minute marked his comeback from injury.
Before Jota’s strike, Burnley posed little threat and were largely due to James Trafford’s eight saves, which helped to keep them in the game.
How the game played out
Following their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday, Liverpool made five changes to their lineup: Nunez, Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch, Joe Gomez, and Jarell Quansah.
Only one player changed for Burnley from their 2-0 victory at Fulham: Mike Tresor replaced Jacob Bruun Larsen.
Zeki Amdouni ignored the support and was only able to fire wide of the right post as the hosts began the game strongly and had a 4v3 position.
And in the EFL Cup match against AFC Bournemouth, Nunez scored for the first time since November 1st, as Liverpool made up for that miss a minute later.
After receiving a feed from Cody Gakpo, the Uruguayan finished expertly from just outside the penalty area, finishing into the bottom-right corner of the net.
Liverpool was clearly in control and had more opportunities to build their advantage. Gakpo sent a shot over the crossbar, then Trafford made an incredible fingertip stop to deny Mohamed Salah.
Gakpo gave Jurgen Klopp’s team a chance to score, but the shot was disallowed because Nunez had fouled Charlie Taylor during the build-up.
Liverpool continued to have opportunities, though, as Salah struck the crossbar and Wataru Endo made Trafford make another excellent save, stopping the Egyptian again a few moments later.
Following Elliott’s score to put the visitors ahead 2-0, Liverpool had another goal disallowed. After a VAR review, the goal was reversed because Salah was deemed to have been offside, obstructing Trafford’s view.
Burnley gained momentum after that and eventually forced an opening when Wilson Odobert’s cross from the left flank found Johann Gudmundsson, who headed over the crossbar.
Replace Liverpool attempted to extend their lead and end the match, but Trafford denied Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold volleyed over, and Dominik Szoboszlai missed long range.
Jota eventually scored a well-deserved second goal for Liverpool after making a successful comeback from injury. It was his 50th goal overall for the team and came from a tight angle through Trafford’s legs.
Liverpool has won all six of its Boxing Day games under Klopp, which is the most wins by a manager with a perfect record on this day in the history of the competition.
And after 19 games, they now have 42 points thanks to their most recent triumph.
Burnley is still in 19th place with 11 points, five behind Everton in 18th place.
Nunez’s goal for Liverpool in all competitions was his 23rd, but it was also his first from outside the area. In fact, prior to today, all 40 of his goals in club football had come from inside the penalty area; his only goal outside the box came in a December 2021 match for Benfica against Sporting da Covilha.
For the first time since 2019–20, when they defeated all three promoted teams on the road, Liverpool has triumphed in back-to-back Premier League away games against newly promoted teams in the same season.
Burnley is the first team in the history of the English Premier League to lose nine out of the first ten home games in a season.
Jota is the only player to have scored seven Premier League goals as a substitute since his debut season with Liverpool (2020–21). Jota’s goal was, in fact, his 50th for Liverpool overall.
