Liverpool ended a two-game winless run to go top of the Premier League on Boxing Day.
A 2-0 win over Burnley wasn’t as comfortable as it might have been in the end, but the Reds got the job done. Here’s how we rated the players at Turf Moor.
Defence
Alisson Becker: 6 – A comfortable day at the office from Alisson, who barely had anything to do, shot-stopping wise. Kicking was a little suspect though, with a couple of stray passes causing a few nerves.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6 – Trent has often been the protagonist for Liverpool of late, but he was much more anonymous on Boxing Day. The 25-year-old’s tremendous passing was on show as ever, but he never really got out of first gear. Almost scored with a rasping left-footed volley late on.
Jarell Quansah: 7 – Another good display from Quansah who continues to look assured at centre-back for Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk: 7 – It’s been a brilliant season for Van Dijk so far and he never looked like losing his grip on that tonight. Assured and focused while others around him toiled slightly.
Joe Gomez: 5– Having now lost Kostas Tsimikas to injury, Liverpool need Gomez to set in at left-back. He did well on Saturday against Arsenal, but this wasn’t a great showing from the England international. Loose with the ball, a needless back-pass to put Alisson in trouble in the second-half summed up an unfocused display.
Midfield
Wataru Endo: 7 Man of the Match– Endo has slowly become Liverpool’s most important midfielder, and he was excellent again at Turf Moor. Broke up the play well, used the ball nicely and almost scored with a low, left-footed effort that was well saved. Gets a point knocked off for a terrible cross-field pass that sent Jacob Bruun Larsen in. But all in all, another good showing from the £16m man.
Harvey Elliott: 7 – Tremendously unlucky to see his near-post finish ruled out for a Mohamed Salah offside. Was industrious otherwise and always lively.
Ryan Gravenberch: 5 – It just isn’t quite happening for Gravenberch right now and this was another disappointing showing. His first touch continued to let him down and he needs to keep the ball much better than he is doing. Would have had a good assist if not for the flag against Salah though, so not all bad.
Attack
Mohamed Salah: 7 – Mo was lively without scoring on Tuesday. Could have done better with an effort which came back off the bar in the first-half, but may have seen it ruled out for handball anyway. Kept plugging but never got any closer.
Darwin Nunez: 7 – Finally got a goal after 12 games and it was nicely taken on the edge of the box, too. Penalised for a foul that never was to deny Liverpool a second goal. Generally tidier in possession than he has been, but not necessarily as much of a threat.
Cody Gakpo: 8 – This was comfortably Gakpo’s best game in months. Drove forward with purpose more than we’ve seen recently and was central to the good attacking play of the first-half. Swept home a delightful finish only to see it ruled out for a phantom foul by Nunez. Much, much better from the 24-year-old.
Substitutes
Dominik Szoboszlai: 6 – Gave the Reds back more control of a game that had started to slip away. Should have done better when meeting a Nunez header two-yards out at the back post, but could only direct back across goal.
Luis Diaz: 7 – Like Szoboszlai, helped Liverpool wrestle the match back. Could have bagged the second but did well to lay in Diogo Jota for the crucial second.
Curtis Jones: 5 – Came on and was like a ghost in the midfield. Couldn’t seem to hold the ball or do anything at all, really.
Diogo Jota: – 10 – Brilliant to see him back. Involved straight away, winning the ball back doggedly on the halfway line to set up an attack. Minutes later he did what he does best, latching onto Diaz’s backheel to smash a game-clincher in for Liverpool. We’ve missed him so much.
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