Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané sink Burnley and delight returning fans

Burnley benefited twice from a cold and silent Anfield during lockdown but this was a welcome return to normality for Liverpool. Jürgen Klopp exited with a thump to the Liver bird on his chest and a beaming smile, encouraged as much by the Premier League debut of Harvey Elliott as the return of a full, passionate house.

Old friends were reunited in the stands and on the pitch as Liverpool maintained their impressive start to the season with a hard-fought but well-earned win.

Virgil van Dijk and Joël Matip commanded central defence and delivered a reminder of the assurance that was ripped from the team last season. Not that a reminder is required. Liverpool’s full-backs provided the assists for Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané to secure victory.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s influence is to be expected but with Andy Robertson returning to the bench after an ankle injury it was Konstantinos Tsimikas who impressed and created down the left.

Then there was Elliott, the 18-year-old who stepped seamlessly into Liverpool’s midfield and life on the Premier League stage. The teenager, and the team, showed flashes of excellence that augur well for what lies ahead and ensured Burnley’s spirited performance would gain no reward. Burnley ended Liverpool’s club record 68-game unbeaten home run last season and their 100% home winning streak the season before. They were a thorn once again. Van Dijk, Matip and Alisson, however, were a formidable obstacle.

“All of our dreams were fulfilled atmosphere-wise,” said Klopp. “It was really special and the game was pretty special too. Burnley are Burnley and they caused us problems. So did this ‘new idea’ about football of letting the game flow more. We will be talking about that frequently during the year.

“But we played a good game and Harvey was part of this performance. It was an incredibly mature performance for an 18-year-old but I am not surprised. That is exactly how he has been since he came back from loan.”

Elliott was introduced to his first Premier League start by a scything foul from Josh Brownhill. Another blow soon arrived from the immaculate Dwight McNeil, whose invention and energy carried a constant threat for Burnley. McNeil had an early shot cleared off the line by Alexander-Arnold – though Chris Wood was offside in the buildup – and almost created an opener for the New Zealand striker with a delightful cross to the near post. Alisson pushed away Wood’s header, Naby Keïta cleared at the second attempt and, within seconds, Liverpool illustrated the fine margins at the highest level by edging ahead.

After three underwhelming seasons at Anfield Keïta has to deliver. This display – sharp, creative, industrious – demonstrated he knows that too. Having stifled Burnley at one end, the midfielder found Tsimikas in space at the other. The left-back swept a precision cross into the heart of the area and Jota, darting in front of Ben Mee, steered a glancing header beyond Nick Pope.

Mohamed Salah had a goal disallowed for offside by VAR when he converted a piercing pass from Elliott and Mané volleyed over from Alexander-Arnold’s chip. But Burnley created chances of their own.

Alisson had handled the aerial threat comfortably but in first-half stoppage time the goalkeeper was beaten to Matt Lowton’s free-kick by James Tarkowski and was relieved to see the defender’s header sail wide of his empty goal. Ashley Barnes tucked Lowton’s cross into the roof of the net early in the second half before his joy was curtailed by a clear offside call.

The quality of Liverpool’s attacking play improved considerably after the interval and Burnley’s hopes were gradually extinguished. Their second goal arrived in style when Van Dijk sprayed a ball out to Elliott hugging the right wing. The teenager found Alexander-Arnold, who flicked a first-time pass behind the defence for Mané to beat Pope with a convincing finish.

Barnes should have rewarded Burnley’s endeavour but played clean through by the substitute Jay Rodriguez he was denied by the advancing Alisson as Liverpool polished their win with a clean sheet.

“We were good again but it is about the details at both ends,” Sean Dyche said. “We had chances but couldn’t find the killer touch or finish.”