LIVERPOOL: Liverpool made it two wins from two matches at the start of the new Premier League season as they cruised to a 2-0 home victory over Burnley on Saturday.
Diogo Jota edged the hosts in front with his second goal in as many games in the 18th minute, a brilliant header in front of the first full Anfield crowd in 17 months.
Burnley, who last season ended Liverpool’s 68-match unbeaten home run in league play, had chances to level, but their final ball was lacking at the crucial moment.
Ashley Barnes thought he had drawn the visitors even early in the second half, only to be denied by the offside flag. Liverpool capitalised on their reprieve in the 69th minute, as Sadio Mane drilled home their second goal.
The hosts pressed for a third, urged on by a buoyant crowd, but they settled for two, and a second clean sheet of the campaign, to go top of the standings, and leave Burnley pointless from their opening two matches.
With Anfield in fine voice, at capacity for the first time since Liverpool’s Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid in March last year, the visitors looked like they might become the first Burnley team since 1897 to win back-to-back league matches at the famous stadium after making a bright start.
Firstly, Dwight McNeil was just offside when he was denied by the post, before Chris Wood was thwarted by a smart save from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
But, for the second time in as many games, Jota settled Liverpool nerves, scoring his first Anfield goal since November last year.
Burnley, who fielded a starting XI consisting only of players with numbers one to 11 on their backs — the first Premier League team since Charlton Athletic in 1998 to do so — remained undeterred, with McNeil again going close moments after Liverpool’s opener.
Salah then thought he had his 99th Premier League career goal, only for VAR to rule it out for offside, with Barnes also seeing a fine finish cancelled early in the second half.
Liverpool stepped it up another gear, with the pressure telling as Mane hammered home his first of the season after a flicked pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
While Chelsea and Manchester City have both been tipped to be eventual champions this season, very few have predicted Liverpool can go all the way and wrestle the title back from City.
But this comfortable victory means Juergen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in 12 matches in the league — the longest run in the division. With Virgil van Dijk back in defence, they look a formidable unit once again.