Burnley end Liverpool's record-breaking run of wins at Anfield

David Bowie's "Heroes" rang out around Anfield at half-time.
Jay Rodriguez of Burnley shoots during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield on July 11, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Pool via Getty Images)Jay Rodriguez of Burnley shoots during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield on July 11, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Pool via Getty Images)
Jay Rodriguez of Burnley shoots during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Burnley FC at Anfield on July 11, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Pool via Getty Images)

The 1977 release, a track from his eponymous EP, had been adopted by Liverpool in celebration of the club's first league title in 30 years.

But it's one that has been so identifiable with much of Burnley's success under Sean Dyche throughout the years.

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And it continues. What the Clarets have achieved so far this season - with limited resources, a threadbare squad and a congested schedule - is nothing short of superhuman.

To most this fixture was nothing more than another notch on Liverpool's ladder. Another step towards making history.

The Reds, guided by Jurgen Klopp, had won 24 games on the bounce at home, dating back to January 2019, as the champions closed in on Manchester City's record 100-point mark set in 2017/18.

Burnley, though, had other ideas. This wasn't a time to roll over and surrender. This was a time to show what they've become.

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They were up against it at Anfield, they have been all season, particularly since Project Restart. However, they continue to deliver.

The home side were rampant, so swift and penetrative in possession. Burnley were often chasing shadows, though they often found a way to keep the Reds out.

Kevin Long desperately intervened to prevent Mo Salah from getting on the end of an Andy Roberston centre, James Tarkowski threw himself at a Roberto Firmino strike and Phil Bardsley got something, anything, on a Sadio Mane effort to divert the ball off-target.

Nick Pope was outstanding. He saved well from Liverpool youngster Curtis Jones and continued to get better and better from that point.

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The England international did exceptional well to claw the ball off his line when flinging himself to an upright when Salah seemed certain to have scored.

Pope then spread himself well to deny the Egyptian again, this time with his feet, only to be undeservedly breached soon after.

Fabinho's diagonal, from a recycled Liverpool corner, dropped beyond Erik Pieters and Robertson, perhaps a most unlikely source, broke the deadlock with a peach of a header.

However, Pope continued to excel and right on the stroke of half-time he was at it again. Mane turned away in disbelief, having turned Long inside the box, as the Clarets stopper somehow saved his attempt.

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The hosts enjoyed plenty of the ball after the break, as you would expect, and poked and probed Burnley's back line.

Firmino's effort, from Rodriguez's error, came back off the post and then Jones fizzed a shot wide of the post after being fed by Salah.

It seemed a matter of 'when' rather than 'if', but what we've come to learn about this Burnley team is that they never know when they're beaten.

And in the 69th minute they silenced Anfield. Well, sort of. Rodriguez has been in fine form, netting against Watford and West Ham United in recent outings.

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There probably isn't another player you'd want the ball to fall for in the penalty area when a chance presents itself.

It was perfect, then, when the striker was the man in position as the ball broke loose. Alisson could only watch as the half-volley, his 11th goal of the campaign, breached his outstretched arm to find the corner.

And with it went the Brazilian's opportunity to draw level with Pope in the race for the Golden Glove.

Pope denied Salah once more as the Reds went in search of a winner, but it was the visitors that almost snatched the points.

Alisson flapped at Westwood's corner and Johann Berg Gudmundsson, on his return from injury, smashed the ball against the bar.