Liverpool 1–1 Burnley: Wasteful Reds Held at Anfield as Winless League Run Continues

Liverpool were left to rue another afternoon of dominance without reward as Burnley held the champions to a 1–1 draw at Anfield, extending Arne Slot’s side’s winless run in the Premier League to four matches.

The pattern of the game followed a familiar script. Liverpool controlled territory and possession from the outset, pinning Burnley into a deep defensive block and creating a steady stream of chances, yet without the clinical edge required to turn control into a commanding lead.

The clearest opportunity arrived in the 31st minute when Cody Gakpo was brought down by Florentino as he attempted to cut inside onto his right foot. With Mohamed Salah still away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Dominik Szoboszlai assumed penalty duties.

His strike, hit with power, cannoned back off the crossbar, Burnley escaping as the ball bounced clear. It was only the second penalty miss of Szoboszlai’s career, having previously converted 20 of his 21 attempts for club and country.

Liverpool continued to press, with Martin Dúbravka producing a series of saves to keep Burnley level. The breakthrough finally arrived three minutes before the interval. Hugo Ekitike’s run down the left was halted at the byline, but Curtis Jones recycled possession after Dúbravka’s initial save.

Florian Wirtz took one touch to set himself before driving a superb finish into the top-left corner for his third Premier League goal. It was a moment of quality that reflected his growing influence, with the German now directly involved in six goals across his seven appearances in all competitions.

The 1–0 scoreline felt slim given Liverpool’s dominance and the volume of chances created, and that failure to add a second goal would prove costly.

Burnley offered little threat for much of the second half but punished Liverpool on 65 minutes with their first and only shot on target. Marcus Edwards drove down the left channel before drilling a low effort across Alisson and into the bottom-right corner from a tight angle.

Florentino, previously at fault for conceding the penalty, provided the assist, sliding the ball into Edwards’ path. It was a clinical finish that stood in stark contrast to Liverpool’s wastefulness.

Liverpool pushed again for a winner and briefly thought they had it when Ekitike turned in Virgil van Dijk’s header from a corner. The goal was disallowed for offside, with a handball also identified, ending any hopes of late redemption.

Despite overwhelming control and sustained pressure, the missed penalty loomed large. Burnley defended their box with discipline and organisation, while Liverpool once again failed to fully capitalise on their chances. It has become a recurring theme this season, with leads proving fragile and victories slipping just out of reach. Notably, Liverpool have not beaten a newly promoted side at home in the league this season.

The final whistle confirmed a fourth successive Premier League draw for the reigning champions, a result that sees Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United move to within a point following their 2–0 victory over Manchester City earlier in the day. Burnley remain in the relegation zone, but a hard-earned point at Anfield may yet prove significant, offering a platform to build momentum and potentially spark the run of form they so badly need to climb to safety.