Having bested Arsenal last week, the prospects of beating Burnley left Liverpool supporters with justifiable concerns. Particularly since the turn of the year, the Reds have struggled to string multiple performances together. Then news of Roberto Firmino’s injury arrived which didn’t do much to ease tensions.
Despite falling behind early and playing far from their best, Liverpool came back to beat Burnley 2-1 at Anfield. It was as close as a must-win match as they have had so far this campaign. They remain locked in the mix for Champions League spots after claiming all three points.
This was a match that looked to repeat a familiar pattern. Liverpool started slowly, conceded early, and struggled to break down a lower half side while dominating possession.
Yet, credit to the Reds that they did not lose their heads. Gini Wijnaldum’s calm finish leveled the score just before the half and sent the side into the break with a bit of a bounce.
After a half where very few players played well, the second half started slightly better. There were not any major changes but Liverpool looked more a little more purposeful about their business. They may have found it difficult to break through Burnley but they also started starving the visiting side of chances and build up play.
Here are four findings from the match.
Faltering Fullbacks
Again, Liverpool’s need for improvement in the fullback position was on display. Burnley took their cue from Leicester’s success and decided to attack from the start. Playing with two strikers, Burnley were intent on applying pressure directly on Liverpool’s centre-halves. However, it was the channels between the fullbacks where the Clarets found most joy.
Andre Gray provided the pace while second striker Ashley Barnes provided the muscle. Each regularly exploited space behind the fullbacks in the first half. Barnes put the away side ahead after running right past Nathanial Clyne, who was out of position and poor to respond.
Reality has to be setting in for Jurgen Klopp. Neither, converted midfielder James Milner nor Clyne are actually adequate in their positions to way he wants to play. Milner lacks pace and requires too much cover. Clyne lacks positional poise. While they often offer an outlet and width, neither player scares opponents with the ball nor can they truly cross the ball well and create chances. In fact, they put even more pressure on any centre-half partnership that has yet to fully develop.
Can Conundrum
After showing immense promise last season, it is fair to suggest that Emre Can has struggled to reach his previous highs this campaign. Regardless, the young German is clearly a Klopp favorite. Filling in for injured Jordan Henderson, Can provides a completely different proposition as the deep central midfielder pivot.
Without question, he struggled in the first half. He should have closed down and challenged the cross that led to the goal and he gave the ball away a bit too cheaply. However, having played much of the year with a lingering calf problem, few players in Red are as willing to impose themselves physically on the opposition or fill the leadership void. Can put himself about the pitch, then ultimately redeemed himself with a 25-yard winner.
Locked with the club in contract negotiations, his demands may be higher than his play deserves but given his age, versatility, and the club’s lack of alternatives, FSG would be foolish not to come to terms with the player. Even if Liverpool bring in another central midfielder, Can is precisely the kind of player whose value increases with the kind of deeper squad Liverpool hopes to require next season.
Short of Steel
Not for the first time, Liverpool lacked strength when facing a lower half team used to scrapping every weekend. Facing another rash of injuries, the squad entering this contest looked decidedly thin. The Reds simply require more robust players, both physically and mentally.
Having players that can simply get on the pitch regularly is one concern. Beyond that, there is an absence of toughness and edge. Apart from Can and Wijnaldum, both responsible for beating Burnley, Liverpool miss the kind of metal required in the rough and tumble marathon of the Premier League season.
Klopp needs to add more size and steel, as much as pace to the list of qualities required by summer signings. For as skilled as this set of players may be, they are best when running in front. What is missing are more personalities that buckle down for the battle. That, more than anything else, will see the Reds winning with greater consistency.
Beating the Bottom
Liverpool’s success against the top six has deservedly received a lot of attention, while their record against the lower half has been exaggerated. The Reds were breaking down low-block teams with ease in the fall. They have struggled against them in the new year but they have struggled against almost everyone since January.
Still, for all the difficulty, beating Burnley may provide a platform for Liverpool to sort out their struggles with smaller clubs. Liverpool won despite playing far from their best. As awful as this match was to watch, it showed a resilience that has been rarely seen this season. There was a bit of luck too but in this match, the graft grew profitable.
The next two fixtures loom large both in terms of opponent and league position but after that, it is a slate of sides in the middle of the table or struggling for survival. Next week’s clash against Manchester City has grander significance in the fight for the top four.
Then the derby with resurgent Everton restarts things after the international break. By then, Liverpool could end up facing no opponent within 15 points of their position. So this match may provide the footing for avoiding any slips.