Burnley ended new champions Liverpool’s hopes of completing the season with a 100% Premier League home record thanks to Jay Rodriguez’s second-half equaliser. Clarets striker Rodriguez swivelled and fired home from inside the box following a James Tarkowski header to reward Sean Dyche’s side for their resilience and persistence in the face of large periods of home dominance. The visitors could even have left Anfield with all three points, but Johann Berg Gudmundsson fired an effort against the crossbar with just minutes remaining.
Andy Robertson had given the home side the lead in the first half, but they also spurned a number of good opportunities to score more, with Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones guilty of wayward shooting. They also found Nick Pope in superb form, with the England goalkeeper producing a string of good saves to deny Salah and others. Roberto Firmino struck the inside of the post with a low shot as Liverpool poured forward to try to capitalise on having more than 70% possession.
The draw means Liverpool can now no longer beat the Premier League record for home wins in a season; they need to beat Chelsea in their last game at Anfield to equal the league high of 18. Liverpool remain in good shape, though, to achieve a highest-ever Premier League points haul; with three games left, they have 93, seven short of the record of 100 set by Manchester City in 2017-18. Burnley are now five games unbeaten since they returned from the Premier League’s three-month shutdown by losing 5-0 at Manchester City. A draw leaves them ninth and still firmly in the mix for a place in next season’s Europa League.
Liverpool reminded that they are not infallible Liverpool’s main goal this season has already been achieved, with the title taken from Manchester City in emphatic fashion. Jurgen Klopp may have said this week that surpassing City’s Premier League points record of 2017-18 was “not that important” to him, but it would provide a fitting cap to a stunning campaign. Two wins and a draw from their remaining four games will see Klopp’s side set a new benchmark, but it is not the only record still possible for them this season. In reaching 100 points, City also set a record Premier League title-winning margin – finishing 19 points clear of their nearest challengers. Liverpool are 26 points ahead of City, albeit having played a game more.
They are also still on course to claim the most wins in a Premier League season (currently 32) and most home points in a campaign (55). This was a small reminder, though, that for all the strides they have made over the past few seasons, the Reds remain fallible. A bit of luck would have seen Liverpool home, with a post denying Firmino, while Pope was inspired, but Klopp’s side also contributed to their own failure to win.
Salah was extremely wasteful, while Jones twice fired wide during an otherwise impressive display as midfield deputy for the injured Jordan Henderson. At the other end, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk – for all their ability – can be as vulnerable as any to a well-placed delivery and a physical, aerial threat. Disappointment then for the Reds, but a timely reminder that they are there to be got at and never truly the finished article.
