Liverpool were just too good - Sean Dyche

The Reds won 2-0 to go 12 unbeaten, thanks to goals in each half from England internationals Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge.

Burnley struggled to pose a threat against a side with five clean sheets in seven games ahead of the match.

Dyche said: “I think they were very good, they’re a side expensively assembled with top class players who have found that run of form and belief in how they’re playing.

“It wasn’t there earlier in the season with as much clarity, but we knew it was a stern task to come here and get a win, so there has to be a reality in the challenge.

“But they’re a fine side, make no mistake, they have players on the pitch who can affect it, and players on the bench who can, different ways of playing, different movement patterns.”

He added: “There were things we’ve been learning on this journey in the Premier League, and there was a lot for our players, particularly the younger ones, to learn from tonight.

“They also brought it together with hard work, they pressed ever so well and are developing into a fine side, which, from the outside, I think we all thought they would do with the players they’ve got.

“I think that’s a different side from the one we played on Boxing Day, where we probably deserved to edge it and win.

“But they’re right in the zone, high on confidence and a very good side.

“Brendan will be really pleased with how he’s working with them to get to this level, possibly too late this season, but, on that, you’ve got to fancy they will be up there next season.”

He accepted Burnley can be better as well, pointing at first half saves from Tom Heaton which kept the Clarets in the game: “Theres a reality to the challenge. I thought they were very good, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still add to our game, of course.

“We gave up too many chances too easily early on, and Tom was on terrific form, second half we gave away a really poor goal from our point of view.

“The first one can happen, high quality players, a good strike, but the second was a really poor goal.

“At 1-0 you never know, as we’ve shown before, the players keep going, but I thought Liverpool were on good form, and are on good form in general.”

Sturridge’s killer second was a header from a Henderson cross - the 17th headed goal Burnley have conceded, but Dyche feels the focus should not be on that statistic: “I’m not really worried. It’s not about the headers, it’s the balls coming in, the quality of the cross, it is a different level, and people forget about that and just think it’s purely the technical play, but there are all sorts of different factors, it’s just another story for you to throw around.”