Liverpool’s inability to manage games cost them a lot as they dropped points in one game and drew 1-1 at home with struggling Burnley, who have not won in 13 Premier League games.
Even a fine display from Florian Wirtz, who put Liverpool ahead after Dominik Szoboszlai missed a penalty, could not dig them out of their self-made hole after allowing Marcus Edwards to equalize with the visitors’ only shot on target in the 65th minute.
Arne Slot’s side have consistently struggled against low-block opponents who have sputtered against the defending Premier League champions and Burnley’s 5-4-1 — unsurprising considering they’ve taken three points in the last 36 — was a prime example.
But this wasn’t one of those quick-footed moments for Wirtz, whose specific abilities make him perfect for picking holes in a persistent defense.
However, a 73% conversion and 32 shots, only 11 of which were on target, produced one goal.
That would have been enough had they not lost confidence at the first sign of the Clarets falling back and leaving a huge hole in their back line.
With Wirtz in charge he should have had more than enough to outplay the visitors but, as they reached the hour mark with only Wirtz’s goals for their own efforts, the momentum shifted.
Ibrahima Konaté’s effort to turn Edward’s cross back to Alisson Becker from close range required the goalkeeper to pull off a fine save, his only one of the game.
But less than two minutes later Alisson was unable to block Edwards’ shot after Konate failed to close down the left-wing attacker in the penalty area.
That ended all the clever work that had put them in complete control.
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Even then it took 42 minutes to make the breakthrough with Wirtz and summer signing Hugo Ekitike playing key roles.
The France international’s touch brought down Virgil van Dijk’s long pass and his determination to recover the ball after a loss took him to the line of the shot which Curtis Jones recycled for Wirtz to power home.
It was his fourth goal, with two assists, in seven games.
That led to Szoboszlai, who scored from 35 yards against Barnsley on Monday, hitting his penalty against the crossbar from the 12-yard box after a soft pass from Florentino Luis, who brought down Cody Gakpo as he passed through.
Ekitike, Gakpo and Wirtz all forced saves from Martin Dúbravka and the rout continued in the second half with Bashir Humphreys clearing Gakpo’s shots off the line, some with Wirtz’s dancing feet.
Ekitike headed home from a corner but offside, Alexis Mac Allister’s first touch was to blaze into a good area before Ekitike, 4 yards out, got enough of Jones’ shot.
The 12-match unbeaten run was of little consolation to Slott, whose side would have moved within five points of second-placed Manchester City after losing in the derby earlier on Saturday.
They have moved back to fourth place behind United but their place in the race for the Champions League is far from in jeopardy.
