Burnley 0-1 Liverpool: Salah penalty keeps Reds’ perfect start going

Liverpool won it late yet again, somehow keeping their 100 percent start to the season going thanks to Mo Salah‘s stoppage time penalty.

An unchanged XI – no Isak in the squad

Slot kept with the same side that started a fortnight ago against Arsenal, but was boosted by the return of Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley to the squad.

Alexander Isak‘s debut was kept on hold, with the Swede not risked after so few team training sessions.

It meant Dominik Szoboszlai remained at right back.

A dire first half of football

Liverpool, in their rather beautiful new green third kit, dominated possession, with 80 percent in the first half. Chances, though, were hard to come by.

Indeed, the only shot on target from either side arrived when sub Andy Robertson – who had just been introduced for the erratic Milos Kerkez who had been booked for diving – had a tame effort.

An absolutely forgettable 45 minutes of football.

Half time: Burnley 0-0 Liverpool

Salah’s penalty wins it late – again!

A second sub saw Conor Bradley introduced at the break, replacing Alexis Mac Allister after the midfielder was on the receiving end of a poor challenge on his ankle in the first half.

Ryan Gravenberch rifled an effort over the bar as Liverpool looked to up the intensity. Szoboszlai stung the ‘keeper’s hands from 25 yards before the hour.

The breakthrough still eluded Slot’s side, with the manager introducing Federico Chiesa for Ekitike with 20 minutes to go.

Burnley had Ugochukwu dismissed for a second yellow for a late challenge on Wirtz in the 84th minute, and Slot rolled the dice by bringing on Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha for Konate and Wirtz three minutes later.

Frimpong got just the Reds’ third shot on target of the game, then his cross earned the penalty as Hannibal handled.

Up stepped Mo Salah, who had been pretty anonymous throughout, to fire into the top corner.

Not for the first time this season, it was far from convincing, but 12 points from 12 so far to begin the campaign.

TIA Man of the Match: Dominik Szoboszlai