Liverpool go top as Nunez ends drought to sink Burnley

BURNLEY, DEC 27: Liverpool climbed to the top of the Premier League as Darwin Nunez ended his goal drought to inspire a 2-0 win against struggling Burnley on Tuesday.

Jurgen Klopps side took an early lead through Nunez at Turf Moor and held on despite wasting a host of chances.

Nunezs eighth goal this season was his first for 12 games since he netted against Bournemouth in the League Cup on November 1.Diogo Jota, back from a months injury absence, wrapped up the victory late on to leave Liverpool two points above second placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.

Arsenal can regain top spot with a victory at home to West Ham on Thursday.

"Nunez is an incredible finisher but if a striker doesn score, the whole system is not the same," Klopp said.

"You question everything. Its not just the outside world, but you question everything. But it was just in the moment and he has it so its all good."

After successive draws with Manchester United and Arsenal prior to Christmas, this was an essential victory for Liverpools title ambitions.

Chasing a first title since 2020, the Reds still aren at their flowing best, but what they lack in grace they make up for in grit at present.

"42 points, thats really cool because the first part of the season is done and it was absolutely alright what we did," Klopp said.

"And if Im right, we cannot be more than a point away from the top of the table, if Arsenal win. Thats obviously in punching distance, let me say it like that."

Second bottom Burnley are five points from safety, but it could have different if Zeki Amdouni had given them a shock lead when he raced through the middle for a wayward shot that whistled wide in the opening seconds.

In their final game of 2023, Liverpool took advantage of that escape in the sixth minute as Cody Gakpo teed up Nunez and he curled a fine finish into the far corner from 20 yards.

Gakpo should have doubled Liverpools lead when he blasted wastefully over from a good position inside the area.

Burnleys Josh Brownhill forced Alisson Becker to make a good save with a testing long-range strike.

But Liverpool were always in the ascendency and Harvey Elliott had a shot well saved by Trafford before Gakpos powerful finish was disallowed for Nunezs foul on Charlie Taylor in the build-up.    —AFP