Liverpool’s 68 game unbeaten run at Anfield came to an end when they lost 1 – 0 to Burnley on Thursday. The run, that spans nearly four years, was a crescendo of sorts to their recent poor form. Ashley Barnes’ penalty for Burnley was his 100th career goal and enough to defeat Liverpool on the night.
Liverpool had a season high 27 attempts on goal against Burnley, but only six were on target as they lost their first home game since April 2017. They have failed to score for four league games in a row for the first time in 2017.
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In those four games, they have had 75 shots and only one goal. The result, Burnley’s first win at Anfield in 46 years, leaves the champions six points behind leaders Manchester United.
That’s not insurmountable by any means, but don’t underestimate the effect it could have on the squad. When Arsenal’s 49 game unbeaten run came to an end in 2005, they were never the same team again.
Liverpool’s air of invincibility is gone now. In this up and down season, their title rivals can smell blood.
After the game, manager Jurgen Klopp blamed himself for the result.
“The game was impossible to lose, but we did,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“That’s my fault because it’s my job to make sure the boys have the right feelings, the right amount of confidence and make the right decisions.”
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“It’s always my fault, the things that don’t work are my fault, the things that do work are down to the players. Credit to the players because it’s what they make of it.
“We have worked so long together now that if I make clear which movements make sense and will hurt the opponent and we don’t do them, then I have to make it clearer. That’s how it is.”
