Burnley 0-2 Liverpool LIVE: Diogo Jota seals the points for Jurgen Klopp’s men as he slots home to make victory secure

Liverpool go top of the Premier League thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

This was a solid victory for Jurgen Klopp, with his side on top for most of the game, and he’ll be satisfied to see Nunez back to scoring ways.

Jota’s injury troubles have not interrupted his fine form – it only took him a few minutes to find his groove and seal the points here.

Virgil van Dijk is given the man of the match award by Amazon.

Dara O’Shea was given a yellow card for his foul on Wataru Endo in the build-up to Diogo Jota’s goal, while Aaron Ramsey came on for Josh Brownhill.

Wow! Way to make an impact…

Diogo Jota has doubled Liverpool’s lead after minutes on the pitch, and surely sealed the victory!

Wataru Endo won the ball in the midfield, and a link-up with Luis Diaz, with the Colombian back-heeling it to Jota in the box, the sub has his 50th Reds goal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold went close with a flash of brilliance!

From 25 yards, he brought the ball down around the D and blasted a volley with his left foot, but it went spinning just wide of the woodwork.

AT THE OTHER END

Jacob Bruun Larsen almost equalised! Wataru Endo surrendered the ball in his own half and the substitute took a shot from range with Alisson off his line, just whisking it past the post.

Nathan Redmond and Jacob Bruun Larsen come on.

Lyle Foster is off, as is Zeki Amdouni.

Diogo Jota is back!

He comes on for Darwin Nunez, the goalscorer, for his first appearance of the month.

He has four goals in his last seven games and Liverpool ahev missed him recently.

Dominik Szoboszlai burst through the heart of the final third and unleashed a flying shot, which blustered wide and high. Nowhere near in the end.

The game is opening up now. No way shoudl he have had that much space, but a quick burst of pace won him plenty of room in an increasingly jaded match.

A last-ditch tackle from Jarell Quansah!

Zeki Amdouni was racing through and could have been one-on-one for an easy finish before the young Liverpool centre-back intervened with a sliding challenge. Nice work.

Trent Alexander-Arnold fouled Lyle Foster and was booked.

James Trafford came to the rescue again there.

Virgil van Dijk headed across the box but the goalkeeper pounced to get his hands on the ball before Darwin Nunez could turn it home.

The ball arrived for Dominik Szoboszlai at an awkward angle at the back post and he volleyed it away from goal rather than towards it.

Some would argue he has to do better but he was under pressure.

A gilt-edged chance there gone begging!

Wilson Odobert shimmied in from the left side and put in a delicious cross. Johann Gundmundsson rose at the back post but headed it over! The net was gaping!

Liverpool looked rattled here. Zeki Amdouni just twisted his way through the area and won yet another corner. They look on top now.

Curtis Jones is on for Ryan Gravenberch.

Luis Diaz is on for Harvey Elliott.

Dominik Szoboszlai is on for Cody Gakpo.

Jurgen Klopp is trying to inject renewed energy into a flagging team.

Profligate from Sander Berge as he drags a shot wide on the half-volley from a few yards out. He just thrashed at it rather than taking his time. He had space in the box.

Vincent Kompany knows these chances will be few and far between.

Darwin Nunez was caught offside down the left flank as Liverpool built a promising attack. There was no need to stray there.

Liverpool could have been 3-0 up if their disallowed goals have stood and they might feel hard-done by.

Johann Gudmundsson is on for Mike Tresor.

Do Burnley have fresh life in them?

They had a couple of corners there and looked to threaten. Darwin Nunez got a vital block in afetr a flick-on. Influential at both ends!

Mo Salah is adjudged to have blocked James Trafford’s view for Harvey Elliott’s shot.

There is a question over whether Clarets defender Jordan Beyer nudged Salah in the way… a cynic could say he helped Salah block Trafford’s line of sight!

Harvey Elliott after an intricate move from Liverpool! He played it to the right of the box for a one-two with Ryan Gravenberch and when he got it back, his delicate strike was never being saved.

A beautiful finish into the bottom corner, but VAR is checking it as Mo Salah was offside and arguably in James Trafford’s line of sight.

Not much to shout about so far this half. Both teams look comfortable in possession.

Darwin Nunez couldn’t get a sight on goal there as Burnley shephered him wide. Liverpool are tip-toeing up the pitch but no clear inroads yet. Harvey Elliott looks the chief creator, while Joe Gomez has settled in nicely on the left flank and is getting high.

Burnley are persisting with their keep-ball strategy this half, but Steve McManaman blasted them for it at the break afterthey gave away key chances

He told Amazon Prime: ‘You wouldn’t do this with an U11 team, you wouldn’t do it with an U14 team, you’d be telling them off.

‘You’re thinking, clear your linesm clear your lines. It comes back and they give the ball away and here Liverpool are hunting them down!’

Liverpool get us going but give away possession inside the first few seconds for a Burnley free-kick.

Liverpool have gone close many times in this game but have only converted one chance… well, two, but Cody Gakpo’s effort was disallowed.

Their struggles up top have been well documented in recent weeks. At least Darwin Nunez has broken his duck.

Some stats for you. Liverpool have had 14 shots to Burnley’s two, with eight on target while the Clarets are still yet to test Alisson.

The Reds have had 69 per cent of the possession.

Burnley started the half in sprightly spirit, with ZekI Amdouni and Josh Brownhill having opportunities, but have lost their footing in the game.

Wataru Endo forced a brilliant save from James Trafford with a low, curled shot toards the left bottom corner.

After the corner, Joe Gomez won another with a deflected shot. He’s searching for his first Liverpool goal in 197 games.

A minute later, Liverpool broke back up the pitch and Harvey Elliott teed up Mo Salah on the right of the area, but he can’t get it past the ever-present Trafford.

Trent Alexander-Arnold just had a talking-to for taking too long with his throw-ins. Burnley feel he is wasting time.

That was a let-off for Burnley!

Charlie Taylor miscued his effort to stop the ball in to Salah and it fell nicely to the forward, who took it in his stride and whacked it with the laces of his left boot… but it pinged off the bar.

Wilson Odobert’s cross from the right looked as if it was being carried away by Santa’s sleigh!

He had time at the corner of the box, but swung a wayward ball beyond all the Burnley heads and out of play.

Cody Gakpo’s initial effort in the box was saved by James Trafford, but he netted the follow-up!

However, Darwin Nunez fouled Charlie Taylor after Trafford’s initial save and the ball then fell to Gakpo.

The whistle went almost immediately and VAR confirms the decision. Few complaints about that.

Snaking our way towards a third of the way through the match here and Liverpool are in control. Possession statistics have them at 68 per cent.

It looks like it could be quite an attitional battle in midfield, though. Neither side has fully had their own way in the heart of the pitch, but Liverpool’s three men in the middle outnumbers Burnley, who are fielding a 4-4-2.

We’ve got a first player on the naughty step!

Sander Berge can’t complain after pulling back Ryan Gravenberch as he tried to rush past him. Easy yellow.

We’ve just seen James Trafford called in to action again, as he rushes off his line to get to a deflected ball ahead of Cody Gakpo.

He’s been a busy man tonight – is he justifying his place?

Burnley gave the ball away in their own area but Liverpool were unable to capitalise. Cue a tussle in the six-yardbox.

A minute later, Darwin Nuenz won the ball high up and flashed the ball across goal but Cody Gakpo couldn’t convert in the middle.

Should Burnley be sticking with their passing style?

Just wide of the post from Josh Brownhill!

He takes it first time from outside the area but curls a right-footed effort beyond the woodwork.

Burnley have started this game well, carving out a couple of chances. They want to go toe-to-toe with the title challengers.

It’s an especially stark opening to the game considering that Burnley have no points from losing positions this season.

James Trafford showed his acrobatic instincts there!

A first-time prod from Mo Salah inside the area was flying into the top corner, but Trafford dived high and left to deny the Egyptian.

Darwin Nunez with a tidy finish after Cody Gakpo’s lay-up!

Gakpo showed his tricky feet down the left before finding Nunez on the edge of the area.

It was a calm finish into the far corner… for his first goal after 12 games dry!

Harvey Elliott had the first proper chance of the game after driving through the midfield and releasing it with his left foot, but it was an easy save.

At the other end, Zeki Amdouni did wonderfully to open up some space for himself but his finish was lacking confidence and he misfired.

He’s had an unassuming start on Merseyside but Wataru Endo has become the fulcrum of the midfield in recent times and is looking increasingly solid.

Good stat here from Michael Reid – throughout the Reds’ recent glut of games, he is the only player to start them all.

Burnley started comfortably before ceding possession to the Reds after a minute.

Mike Tresor made an impression right from the off, carrying the ball to the edge of the box from the right wing. He’s Burnley’s only change today.

Burnley get us underway in their claret and blue kit that looks suspiciously what I used to wear when I was an Under 10s player.

Liverpool are draped in white and green for this clash.

Music rings around Turf Moor and the anticipation builds as the players take their positions.

Jurgen Klopp thinks his team could be ahead of where they are.

He said: ‘I’m not happy with the situation, I’m okay with the situation.That’s how it is. We are where we are and we all know if you watched our games we could have more points.

‘We were lucky in some moments. We were unlucky in some moments. But it’s fine we are where we are and nobody has really spoken about our injuries but we have enough.

‘Andy Robertson before that Diogo Jota was incredible shape before he got injured. We are here and the boys look ready.’

Jurgen Klopp has explained the heavy changes to the line-up today.

He said: ‘It’s the fourth game in 10 days so we have to make changes. They were all ready and they all gave me the thumbs up and there are obviously some players who are not at the same intensity.

‘We have a bench where we can change five times properly and it doesn’t get too young. Diogo Jota is back which is good. It’s just the idea that we try to get fresh legs in.

‘Burnley’s a football playing side and we have to defend them properly and we can’t do that without legs.’

Luton Town took a big stride today with a 3-2 win against basement boys Sheffield United.

Two late own goals meant the Blades undid their earlier good work and gifted Rob Edwards’ men a huge three points.

They’re now four ahead of Burnley and just one behind Everton.

Over to you, Vincent Kompany…

Four calling birds, three French hens, and.. two Premier League draws in a row!

Two stalemates on the bounce haven’t stopped Liverpool’s affable boss from smiling. He looks in good spirits for today’s game.

We’ve definitely seen more Lapland-inspired hats over the years.

Vincent Kompany arrives donning his typical cap for today’s game, but I don’t blame him. He’s in the zone.

Liverpool have drawn four and lost one against the big six, so there’s their first resolution for the New Year.

Or maybe fixing their out-of-sorts attack is. Besides Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s forward men are either woefully out of form or struggling with injury. Diogo Jota’s return to the bench today offers hope.

Virgil van Dijk knows that even if they finish today top, the Redsare far from the finished article.

Speaking of articles: READ MORE BELOW.

Lewis Steele is Mail Sport’s elf on the ground in Burnley for this evening’s festive footballing frolic.

His present to us this year will be a tasty match report for you to devour later on.

Do give him a follow on X… or end up on the naughty list for next year!

(Okay, that’s enough Christmassy language.)

Just the one change from the Clarest side that beat Fulham 2-0!

Mike Tresor replaces Jacob Bruun Larsen out wide, who drops to the bench.

Jurgen Klopp has made five changes to the side that drew with Arsenal.

In defence, Jarell Quansah steps in for Ibrahima Konate while, as expected, Joe Gomez takes the place of Kostas Tsimikas.

In midfield, Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch take the places of Curtis Jones and Dominkc Szoboszlai.

Up front, just the one change with Darwin Nunez coming in for Luis Diaz, with Cody Gakpo presumably shifting out to the left flank.

Burnley showed their mettle last time out as they beat Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage.

Despite only having seven shots and 34 per cent possession, they were lethal when they needed to be.

Second-half goals from Wilson Odobert and Sander Berge gave them the win and offered a blueprint for how they might get something from today’s game.

Vincent Kompany obviously wants to play pretty football, but could something more robust be the answer to their struggles?

Dejan Lovren has leapt to the defence of his friend, Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool’s winger received a lot of online pushback after posting his annual family Christmas photo – despite being a Muslim.

Dealing with stick is part and parcel of a high-profile footballing lifestyle and one imagines Salah is able to put any online criticism aside to focus on today’s match.

Burnley have turned to some adorable recruits to help them police today’s game!

I wonder if either of the teams would take them to help sniff out danger at the back…

Dramatic scenes erupted back in January 2018 whe Ragnar Klavan headed home a 94th-minute winner? Will it take similar late heroics today to separate the sides?

Both have been involved in rather eventful games with huge scorelines this year – I have a feeling we could be looking at more than a 2-1!

Don’t assume that Liverpool are safe and dry today, especially not as they’re navigating injury troubles at the back.

Kostas Tsimikas has joined Andy Robertson on the treatment table with a broken collarbone after colliding with Jurgen Klopp during the 1-1 draw with Arsenal, leaving Jurgen Klopp light at left-back.

Joe Gomez is expected to fill in and did well coming on against the Gunners, but could his unfamiliarity with the position be a weakness Burnley can exploit today?

Happy Boxing Day and welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog of Burnley vs Liverpool!

Jurgen Klopp’s men travel to Turf Moor for their last game of 2023 knowing a win could send them top of the Premier League table and put the pressure back on Arsenal.

Vincent Kompany’s men have given Clarets fans reason to be joyous with two wins in their last five. Could they upset the odds today?