Liverpool 1-1 Burnley: Marcus Edwards strike secures valuable point at Anfield

The Clarets were inevitably under the cosh for much of the game and had to withstand plenty of Liverpool pressure, facing 31 shots in the process.

But Scott Parker’s side defended resolutely and took their chance when it came, Edwards drilling across Alisson and into the bottom corner.

That came after the Clarets had gone a goal down just before half-time when Florian Wirtz slammed home following some poor defending from the visitors.

Many were expecting the floodgates to open at this point, but Burnley - who also survived a penalty scare in the first half when Dominik Szoboszlai slammed the crossbar - held firm to pick up a valuable point.

Jaidon Anthony was rewarded with a league start after scoring twice in his last two games.

He came off the bench to score a stunner against Manchester United before also finding the back of the net in last week’s 5-1 FA Cup thrashing of Millwall.

Parker made just two changes from the last league outing, the 2-2 draw against United, as Hannibal made way for Anthony and Axel Tuanzebe replaced Josh Laurent in the back five.

Lyle Foster was available to feature on the bench despite missing last week’s cup tie through illness, but Joe Worrall remained absent despite closing in on a return from a knock.

Jordan Beyer, Connor Roberts, Josh Cullen, Mike Tresor and Zeki Amdouni all remain sidelined.

As for Liverpool, they made two changes from their last league outing, the draw against leaders Arsenal, with Conor Bradley dropping out after suffering a serious injury at the Emirates.

The Clarets were fortunate not to concede as early as the third minute when Milos Kerkez was set free inside the box. His pullback looked destined to be tapped home by Curtis Jones at the back post, but Lucas Pires did superbly to save Burnley’s blushes.

Anthony had Burnley’s first sight of goal with a 25-yard effort, but drilled high and wide with Alisson never under any threat.

Most of Liverpool’s early play came down their left, but they soon threatened on the opposite flank as Dominik Szobosszlai glanced a header wide from Jeremie Frimpong’s centre.

Burnley inevitably weren’t seeing much of the ball, but they remained well organised and began to see one or two opportunities at the other end of the pitch.

Florentino Luis of all people shot just over with a rising effort from the edge of the box after Anthony had fooled the home side with a short throw, when everyone in the box was awaiting a long one.

Martin Dubravka was then required to make a smart stop to deny Hugo Ekitike low down to his left after the Frenchman had cut inside to a central position, tipping it wide to safety.

Szoboszlai then almost inadvertently gave Liverpool the lead when his teasing, inswinging cross beat everyone and almost crept in at the far post.

An otherwise dull game soon sparked into life just after the half-hour mark when Liverpool were awarded an incredibly soft penalty. Florentino the man penalised for a collision of knees with Cody Gakpo.

Szoboszlai was the man to step up and attempted to pick out the top corner, only to slam his spot kick off the crossbar much to Burnley’s relief.

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Aside from that, the majority of Liverpool’s attempts on goal were coming from range, with Florian Wirtz the next man to try his luck, only to see his goalbound effort well saved by Dubravka at full stretch.

Burnley looked as though they were going to make it to the half-time interval unscathed, but Parker’s team talk was soon in tatters as Liverpool opened the scoring two minutes before the break.

Wirtz was the man to get it, shooting high into the roof of the net after Axel Tuanzebe had been undone far too easily by Ekitike.

It could have got even worse for the Clarets before the half was up, but Maxime Esteve produced some excellent last-ditch defending to deny Liverpool a second after a lightning-quick break.

Burnley looked for an instant response at the start of the second half and almost got it through Marcus Edwards, who fired just over after a quick swivel and turn inside the box.

Dubravka continued to be a busy man though, making an important stop to deny Wirtz his second as the Liverpool man looked to run through the middle of Burnley.

Bashir Humphreys was then required to make a clearance off the line after Cody Gakpo had beaten Dubravka from Wirtz’s pullback.

Having weathered the Liverpool storm at the start of the second half, Burnley ought to have levelled just after the hour mark.

Kyle Walker did well to win the ball high up the pitch and immediately fed Edwards, who had been left in acres of space deep into Liverpool territory.

Rather than shoot, Edwards opted to pick out Jaidon Anthony in the middle but his pass was a poor one. Nevertheless, Ibrahaima Konate almost turned the ball home for an own goal, but Alisson made the save.

It proved to be the moment that sparked Burnley into life because, just two minutes later, they found that equaliser.

Edwards was the man to get it, atoning for his poor place just a moment earlier, the winger slamming home across Alisson after being picked out in space by a clever Florentino pass.

The goal sparked wild celebrations in the away end, while Burnley’s substitutes even joined in near the corner flag.

Gakpo looked to immediately restore Liverpool’s lead, but his shot was once again cleared away by Humphreys, this time near the goalline rather than off it.

Burnley were dealt an injury blow with 15 minutes left on the clock when Esteve was forced off with another knock to be replaced by Hjalmar Ekdal, while Lyle Foster also replaced the quiet Armando Broja.

Liverpool fans thought their side were back in front when Ekitike slammed home from close range, but thankfully for Burnley the linesman’s flag was quickly raised for offside - and VAR concurred.

The home side inevitably threw the kitchen sink at Burnley during the SEVEN minutes of stoppage time, but Burnley held on for a valuable point at Anfield.

TEAMS

Liverpool: Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez (Robertson), Jones (Chiesa), Gravenberch (MacAllister), Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo (Ngumoha), Ekitike

Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Gomes, Endo, Nyoni, Ramsay

Burnley: Dubravka, Walker, Tuanzebe, Esteve (Ekdal), Humphreys, Pires, Florentino (Hannibal), Ugochukwu (Laurent), Edwards (Tchaouna), Anthony, Broja (Foster)

Subs not used: Weiss, Hartman, Bruun Larsen, Barnes

Referee: Andy Madley

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