Liverpool’s inability to manage games cost them dearly again as they dropped points in a one-sided 1-1 draw at home to struggling Burnley, who have not won in 13 Premier League matches.
Even a virtuoso performance from Florian Wirtz, who put Liverpool ahead after Dominik Szoboszlai missed a penalty, could not dig them out of the hole they created for themselves after allowing Marcus Edwards to equalise with the visitors’ only shot on target in the 65th minute.
Arne Slot’s team have consistently struggled against the low block opponents have deployed against the defending Premier League champions and Burnley’s 5-4-1 – unsurprising considering they arrived having taken three points from the last 36 – was a classic example.
But this was not one of those occasions for the quick feet of Wirtz, whose specific skill set makes him ideal for picking holes in obdurate defences.
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Nevertheless, 73 per cent possession and 32 shots, only 11 of which were on target, produced a solitary goal.
That would have been enough had they not lost confidence at the first sign of the Clarets pushing back and left a huge hole in their backline.
With Wirtz pulling the strings they should have had more than enough to overpower the visitors but, having reached the hour mark with only Wirtz’s goals for their efforts, the momentum switched.
Ibrahima Konate’s attempt to divert Edwards’ cross back to Alisson Becker from close range required the goalkeeper to produce a brilliant reaction save, his only one of the game.
But less than two minutes later Alisson could not keep out Edwards’ shot across him after Konate failed to close down the attacker on the left of the penalty area.
That undid all the brilliant work which had put them in total control.
Even then it took 42 minutes to make the breakthrough with Wirtz and summer signing Hugo Ekitike playing pivotal roles.
The France international’s touch brought down Virgil van Dijk’s long pass and his determination to win back the ball after losing possession took him to the byline for a shot which Curtis Jones recycled for Wirtz to smash home. It was his fourth goal, with two assists, in seven games.
That made up for Szoboszlai, who scored from 35 yards against Barnsley on Monday, smashing his penalty against the crossbar from 12 after a somewhat soft concession by Florentino Luis, who brought down Cody Gakpo as he stepped across him.
Ekitike, Gakpo and Wirtz had all forced saves out of Martin Dubravka and the barrage continued in the second half with Bashir Humphreys twice clearing Gakpo shots off the line, one courtesy of Wirtz’s dancing feet.
Ekitike rammed home from a corner but was offside, substitute Alexis Mac Allister’s first touch was to blaze wide from a good position before Ekitike, four yards out, could not get enough on Jones’ cross-shot.
A 12th match unbeaten was little consolation for Slot, whose side would have moved to within five points of second-placed Manchester City after their defeat in the derby earlier on Saturday.
They regained fourth place from United, but their position in the race for a Champions League place is far from secure.
Meanwhile, Arsenal missed a slew of chances in a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest but went seven points clear at the top of the table after Manchester City’s loss to Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta’s side should have gone ahead in the first half when Gabriel Martinelli latched on to a deflected shot from Noni Madueke, but he steered his close-range effort narrowly wide.
Forest goalkeeper Matz Selz pulled off a superb fingertip save to deny Bukayo Saka in the second half and substitute Mikel Merino flashed a header from a Declan Rice free kick as the Forest rearguard held firm.
Arsenal moved up to 50 points from 22 games, seven ahead of Manchester City and third-placed Aston Villa, who play Everton on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Chelsea took a 2-0 win over Brentford at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer on target from the penalty spot to add to Joao Pedro’s earlier strike, while West Ham secured an away win at Tottenham, a late goal from Callum Wilson ending it 2-1 to the Hammers.
Sunderland ran out 2-1 winners at the Stadium of Light, Enzo Le Fée and Brian Brobbey with the goals for the hosts after Yeremy Pino’s opener, while Lukas Nmecha was on target with a late winner for Leeds at home to Fulham.
