Thiago silences transfer doubts
It needed a second and third look to be truly believed.
Midway through the first half, possession was punted towards the touchline in the direction of Thiago Alcantara.
The bounce seemed to take it away from the Liverpool midfielder. But in a flash, the Spaniard had stretched to control the ball with the outside of his right foot, flick it away from his Burnley marker and then back into his path before moving play on.
Effortlessly simple yet brilliant, it was a sign of a player fully at ease with both his game and surrounds.
Life hasn’t always been like that for Thiago at Liverpool this season, his travails prompting some to question why Jurgen Klopp was so keen to splash out on his services.
Nobody is doubting the transfer now.
As against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, Thiago made the difference here against a packed Burnley defence, shifting them this way and that and ultimately wearing out their energy levels and concentration so his team-mates could prosper. It was precisely for this reason he was bought.
During a first half in which Liverpool appeared acutely aware of what was at stake, Thiago was one of very few cool heads, always pressing, always probing, always demanding the ball.
He wasn’t far from the goal his display deserved, dragging a shot across the face after a fine one-two with Mohamed Salah.
And in the second half, his dogged defensive qualities helped see the game out. That £20million now looks the steal we always thought it would be.
Phillips and Williams one away
It’s the statistic that, above any, highlights the problems Liverpool have faced this term.
If, as expected, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams line up for the finale against Crystal Palace on Sunday, no other centre-back pairing would have started more Premier League games this season for the Reds.
A sixth partnership would move them level with Joel Matip and Fabinho, Jurgen Klopp left no option with every other senior centre-back injured.
It has been asking a lot for the inexperienced duo to see Liverpool over the line and, as at The Hawthorns on Sunday, there were signs of nerves and uncertainty early on.
Phillips in particular was dominated in the air by Burnley’s Chris Wood and was also lucky to escape after completely miscuing one attempted clearance into the danger zone.
Williams appeared the more assured, which was required with Burnley pressing high as Liverpool worryingly knocked the ball around the back.
In the second half, though, Phillips came to the fore, netting a first senior goal with a powerful header from Sadio Mane’s cross, and then in the right place to clear off the line from Ben Mee.
He has been the true breakout star for the Reds.
The job, though, isn’t quite done for Liverpool’s most unlikely heroes, with Palace and former Reds forward Christian Benteke on the horizon. One to go.
Alisson shows true self
With Liverpool eventually finding the onion bag, there was no need for Alisson Becker to go sauntering upfield this time.
Instead, the goalkeeper gave an understated demonstration of why he remains one of the world’s best in his preferred position.
The Reds’ rocky opening period could have been a lot worse had Alisson not smothered an effort from Burnley forward Wood and then beaten out a long-range effort from Dwight McNeil.
And while there were fewer moments of direct threat after the break – save Phillips’s clearance from Mee – where Alisson impressed was with his handling of Burnley’s increasing aerial threat from set-pieces.
The keeper caught when he could, punched when he had to and gave his centre-backs confidence that anything that went in behind them would be dealt with.
Burnley threw bodies into the box but, having learned from earlier in his Reds career, the Brazilian refused to be intimidated.
Alisson, similar to compatriot Firmino, has had a rocky time this year, albeit with the considerable personal setbacks with which to also contend.
His goal at The Hawthorns will forever be remembered. This clean sheet, though, was the true Alisson in action.
