Burnley: Jurgen Klopp admitted he has been surprised by Liverpool’s 100 percent start to the Premier League season after a 3-0 victory at Burnley on Saturday kept his side two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
The European champions struggled in pre-season, losing three times, as they had to cope largely without Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane after their participation in international tournaments during the summer.
But all three have picked up where they left off last season as Klopp’s men extended their winning run in the Premier League to a club record 13 games.
“If you ask me four weeks ago I wouldn’t expect it would happen,” said Klopp.
“We had a tricky pre-season. No pre-season for the front three but they still deliver. So far, so good.”
Burnley were left to rue missing the first big chance of the match when Chris Wood got in behind the Liverpool defence just three minutes in and turned Virgil van Dijk, but the New Zealander’s shot was just too close to Adrian, who palmed the ball to safety.
Liverpool went straight down the other end and were inches away from an early lead themselves when Salah’s fiercely struck effort came back off the post.
The Egyptian then did not get the break of the ball as Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope’s clearance bounced off Salah and inches wide.
However, fortune did favour Jurgen Klopp’s men 12 minutes before half-time.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was clearly looking to deliver a cross into the box, but the ball flicked off Wood and looped over Pope into the far corner.
Burnley then played a huge part in their own downfall moments later when Ben Mee gifted possession to Firmino inside the hosts’ half.
The Brazil forward strode forward before releasing a perfect pass so Mane did not have to break his stride in finding the bottom corner.
Firmino then became the first Brazilian to score 50 Premier League goals when he found the bottom corner from just outside the box 10 minutes from time.
Richarlison fires Toffees past Wolves
In Liverpool, Richarlison bagged a brace as Everton earned a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolves on Sunday.
Brazil forward Richarlison scored the winner with 10 minutes left at Goodison Park to hand the Toffees their second win of the Premier League season.
Wolves remain without a win in four league games after suffering
their first defeat of the season.
