Talking points: Jota returns to scores goal No.50 and sends Liverpool to the top of EPL Table
Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota were on target as Liverpool beat Burnley 2-0 to move to the top of the Premier League on Boxing Day.
Nunez’s early goal set the Reds on their way at Turf Moor, with Jota emerging from the bench to seal the points late on in an action-packed contest.
Here are five things we noticed on a positive night in Lancashire…
Nunez delivers a late Christmas present
It took Liverpool fewer than six minutes to break this game open, and in some style too.
Cody Gakpo escaped down the left and pulled the ball back for Nunez, who slotted home a brilliant first-time finish.
The Uruguay international shaped his body to arc a clinical strike into the bottom right corner to land his first goal for the Reds since November 1.
It was the highlight of a fine all-round performance from the No.9, who was a constant menace throughout.
A nice late Christmas present for Reds fans.
Jota’s timely return
So often an arch predator for Liverpool, Jota needed only six minutes to make his mark here.
The Portuguese had been absent since the draw at Manchester City on November 25 due to injury, but he was fit enough to return to action as a substitute against Burnley, and how glad Liverpool were that he did.
Having replaced Nunez in the 84th minute, the forward delivered the killer blow, firing home from a tight angle after another substitute, Luis Diaz, had set him up with a backheel.
Adding further gloss to the moment, it was Jota’s 50th goal since he joined the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020.
Welcome back, Diogo.
Boxing Day specials
Few teams enjoy Boxing Day football as much as Liverpool, and few managers enjoy it as much as Jürgen Klopp.
The Reds boss has now won all six of his Premier League games on December 26, by an aggregate score of 19-1. No manager has a better 100 per cent record in the competition on Boxing Day.
And the Reds have now won their last seven Boxing Day league games, since a 2-1 loss at Man City in 2013-14. It’s their longest winning run on the day in their league history.
Gakpo reaches his half-century
Gakpo will celebrate 12 months as a Liverpool player next week, and here he made sure he marked his 50th appearance for the club in style.
Starting on the left of the Reds’ attack, the Dutchman was prominent particularly in the first half, and collected an assist for Nunez’s opening goal.
He might have had a goal of his own soon after, but saw his strike ruled out for a foul by Nunez, though the 24-year-old can reflect on a job well done and a promising first half-century of games in red.
Defence stands firm
Liverpool may well have been out of sight here by the hour mark, but they were forced to weather a storm in the second half as Burnley came on strong in the closing stages.
The good news for Klopp, however, is that defensively his team continue to show impressive resilience. After 19 league games, the Reds have conceded only 16 goals, the joint-fewest in the division, and both captain Virgil van Dijk and youngster Jarell Quansah were excellent here.
Quansah notably shone on just his third Premier League start, with Klopp describing his contribution
as “top, really good” post-match.
Published 1 hour ago
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