Sean Dyche's delight after historic night for Burnley at champions Liverpool

But of more importance to Sean Dyche was putting another three points between his side and the drop zone, with the buffer now seven points.

Ashley Barnes' late penalty created history, inflicting Liverpool's first home loss since 2017, and asked which was the most pleasing aspect, Dyche said: "The last one is more important (moving seven points clear of the bottom three), to gain the points we have done after a really tricky start, two points from eight games, so as a group to stay focused on what the job really is, to get back to performing and winning games, I'm really pleased with that side of things.

"A lot of work still to do, but we're getting stronger and I still feel we can offer more, not so much tonight, it's a tough place to go, but in the attacking third, we know we've got to find more detail.

"But even without finding that, we've still got 19 points and put ourselves in good shape.

"To top it off, it's a great place to win at, but the players deserved that."

Burnley turned in a defensive masterclass to restrict Liverpool's clear cut chances, with Divock Origi hitting the bar after a slip from Ben Mee, and Nick Pope plunging to his left to make a fine stop from Mo Salah, but they were the only golden openings for the hosts.

And Dyche noted: "Physically we were fit and strong as usual, the organisation was excellent, the way they delivered the team shape. We're quite experienced in that we don't work with the ball as much as other teams, and not many teams have more possession than these, so you've got to work well without it, and we did.

"The main thing is the mentality of the side to do that, but we did keep probing and try to ask questions.

"We know we've got to improve on the details in the final third, but there was one bit of excellent football from Dwight McNeil when Johann runs off the front, and that's a real big chance.

"We do believe in the fact we can create, and Barnesy was excellent the way he turned and got into the box, and it is a penalty. We're one in 24 to get penalties, which, in the modern game, I don't know how that's possible.

"If we're due one, it's a good place to get one.

"The strikers haven't been firing, a few question marks, but I believe in them, all four, I've stuck with the two who have historically done well for us - they've played more than the other two of course - but the stats show that.

"All four have goals in them, but Barnesy gets his chance, he went after the ball, gripped it, stepped up and it was a great penalty."

In the run of 68 games without defeat at Anfield, Liverpool had won 55, but of the 13 draws, Burnley had two to their name, and they were the only side to take a point at Liverpool in their title-winning season last term.

Burnley could well have won that day, with Johann Berg Gudmundsson hitting the bar late on, and while you can't say a win was coming at Anfield, you couldn't say it was a fluke either, with the gameplan working to perfection: "The last one doesn't guarantee the next one, but I think we've delivered good, organised performances here, particularly the last one after lockdown, when we were a crossbar away from possibly winning, and defended very well again.

"It gives you that sort of belief and edge to your performance, where you go 'alright, we have drawn two of the last three' and we set about it in the right manner, very early, our organisation was good, the energy, belief and feel of the performance was right.

"We got away with one with the mistake just before half-time when they hit the bar, but we looked pretty diligent.

"Second half they play it and probe, and stay calm, but I don't remember too many golden chances, which was pleasing.

"Popey had one big save to his left, but a lot of good defending in front of him, and you have to defend at these grounds, and work very hard.

"Then you have to find your moments, and we did at the end with the penalty. And if anyone is due a penalty, it's got to be Burnley Football Club!

"But we've had to be effective over many years and people question us, and I have no problem with that at all, most people want football to be played like Barcelona and it isn't that easy for every team - some can play that type of football, others can't.

"We work on effective football, and part of that is to defend well, and I think we can do that, but you have to get the balance right, and we still haven;t quite got that, but we did tonight.

"We will have to adjust that and keep working, but we still have 19 points, which is very pleasing, and a big win at Anfield."

Dyche was seen having words in the tunnel with Jurgen Klopp at half-time after a VAR review for violent conduct, with Fabinho eventually booked for kicking out at Barnes.

Klopp would only say: "If he doesn't speak about it, I won't speak about it", and Dyche was similarly tight-lipped: "Just two managers fighting for their side, wanting to win. I've got no problem with that, he's a top class manager at a top class football club, and you are allowed to say your piece and fight for your side if you feel it's appropriate, which I did. That's it for me, it's a moment in time. End of."

On the actual incident, he added: "I didn't see it, I was almost down the tunnel.

"I got in to talk to my coaching team and they were saying the players were still out there because it was being looked at.

"Until i see it back I wouldn't have a clue on it really.

"It was obvious enough to look at.

"I don't want to see players sent off if it is something minor, I think there is some crazy stuff in the game now, minimal contact penalties, minimal contact fouls and minimal contacts for sendings off but I haven't seen it."

There was one downside, with left back Charlie Taylor coming off with a recurrence of a hamstring problem, in his first game for three weeks, although Erik Pieters performed admirably as a substitute, up against Salah: "Charlie's nicked his hamstring, but we think it is literally a nick, not like it was. We're hopeful that will settle down quick, but I must give Erik a good shout, very difficult coming on in a game like that but he was excellent.

"I think it's the same hamstring but not anywhere near as serious, that's the immediate reaction."

Another standout was Dwight McNeil, who again gave Trent Alexander-Arnold problems down the left, and Dyche said: "He is going to get fitter and sharper

"I thought there were elements of his game that showed he was a bit rusty. ]#

"He is a very talented player and he gives you those moments and he did do tonight when it counted.

"His game awareness is improving and understanding is improving all the time.

"I think he is an all-rounder, some young players have one side to their game and he is beginning to form into an all round player and I like that about him.

"He had his moments, that's for sure."