Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of Burnley against Liverpool on the second weekend of the new Premier League season. We will have the team news for you as soon as they come in.
Here is how the home side lines-up:
And the visitors:
Several notable inclusions at Turf Moor.
Record signing Steven Defour makes his debut for the Clarets, who also include Ireland’s Stephen Ward in their starting XI.
While Sadio Mané, who scored on his league debut last weekend against Arsenal, isn’t fit to play, with Daniel Sturridge coming in for the former Southampton man.
Mr. Versatile James Milner will start the game at left-back coming in for Alberto Moreno, who drops to the bench.
How will Liverpool fare today?
Well, they have beaten Burnley in all four of their Premier League meetings, with the Clarets failing to register a goal.
Most of you probably weren’t born the last time Burnley beat the Reds in the league – it happened 42 years ago with Burnley enjoying a 1-0 win at Anfield.
Liverpool clashing with the stewards at Turf Moor this afternoon:
It’s wet and windy, in other words a typical summer’s day in Burnley. We’re under way at Turf Moor.
GOAL! The home side take the lead after a superb hit from Sam Vokes whose powerful shot passes by Mignolet.
It was Clyne that gave the ball away in the lead up to the goal, with Andre Gray sliding the ball into the Welsh striker, who fires his shot past the Liverpool goalkeeper. What a start from the home side!
Liverpool haven’t settled at all here. Gray makes a superb run down the right flank, but a fine sliding tackle from Lovren prevents the home side going for a second.
Liverpool play a short corner with James Milner setting up Adam Lallana on the edge of the box, but new man Defour throws his body in front of the ball. Could be that type of game.
Philippe Coutinho sees a curling effort from the best part of 25 yards sail over the bar. A little tester perhaps. Liverpool getting into the game now.
Liverpool are really monopolising the ball at the moment with 75% possession so far, but are vulnerable on the break. Tom Heaton in the home goal has yet to be tested.
Jürgen Klopp’s side are struggling to break down this stubborn Burnley defence at the moment. Attempted passes from Sturridge then Coutinho fail to find Firmino in the box.
Sam Vokes was quite happy with his early goal:
Interesting stat from Opta:
The Clarets are defending deeper and deeper the longer this game goes on. Sean Dyche’s side have had just the one shot so far – the goal. Liverpool on the other hand, have had six.
Sturridge with space on the edge of the box, but the England striker fails to find the accuracy for his powerful curling attempt, which goes harmlessly wide.
Some good sharp passing from the visitors, but Liverpool are lacking that killer ball when it matters most – in the final third.
As a result of Liverpool’s domination of the ball, James Milner has operated more as a winger rather than a left-back. The former England international wins a corner, but another short one comes to nothing.
Reportedly, Liverpool’s alternative kit is called ‘toxic green’. They are not wrong.
GOAL! Against the run of play Burnley double their lead.
Defour with an impressively determined run from his own half, sets the home side free on the break, and the Belgian sets up Andre Gray with the striker showing great composure to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
Liverpool are shell-shocked here. But Burnley have executed their game plan magnificently so far.
Clyne has a tame left-footed shot from outside the box but it is easily gathered by Heaton.
Another dangerous cross is swung into the Burnley box, but Sturridge needlessly fouls Ward to concede a free out.
It’s half-time here and Liverpool trail by two goals at the break. Burnely’s two strikers may grab the headlines, but debut boy Defour has been excellent in the middle of the park.
A reminder of the players Klopp has on the bench if he fancies making a change:
Here is how the second goal was greeted by the Burnley players and supporters:
Second-half starts. Big 45 minutes for both sides.
No changes for either side at the break. Liverpool had 14 shots in the first period, just two of which were on target. If they improve their shooting accuracy they could get back into the game.
Here are how the other Premier League matches look going into the second 45:
Sturridge with an early attempt but he drags his shot across the face of Heaton’s goal.
SHOT! Firmino with a stinging shot from distance leaving Heaton to palm his effort away – the most uncomfortable he has looked so far.
CHANCE! Firmino again this time from the right flank, the Brazilian pings in a perfect ball across the Burnley box but no Liverpool gambles.
Sturridge sees yet another attempt fly high and wide. Could be a long 35 minutes for the newly-promoted side.
SUB: One of Iceland’s hero’s from Euro 2016 Berg Gudmundsson comes on for Defour who has impressed on his debut.
SHOT! A corner from Henderson falls to Coutinho on the edge of the area, but Liverpool’s no. 10 is unable to direct his first-time volley towards the goal.
Not much has changed from the first-half. Liverpool are controlling the ball with 79% possession, but Burnley are relatively comfortable – for the time being.
Klopp is not happy with what he is seeing this afternoon:
A Lallana corner is intercepted by Arfield who scrambles the ball into the Liverpool half, but some last-ditch defending prevents Vokes from getting his shot away.
SUB: Not a great day for Sturridge and he is replaced by Origi.
SHOT! Gray, who has had to make do with scraps for most of the day, has a shot on the half-turn that goes well wide. Still, it got the home fans excited.
The stats are showing Liverpool have had 85% possession in the second-half. But as we saw in the European Championships, that doesn’t necessarily translate into goals.
Coutinho is cutting a frustrated figure at the moment, he has another attempt that troubles the crowd more than Tom Heaton.
Gray out-muscles the Liverpool defence on the halfway line, and demonstrates his blistering pace, but is eventually outnumbered by red jerseys.
In the final stages at Turf Moor, and it looks like this match could be a coupon-buster for many this afternoon. Burnley edging towards the three points.
SUB: Moreno comes on for Milner, while Grujic makes his Premier League debut replacing Lallana.
SAVE! Good play from the substitute Grujic who dodges a couple of tackles on the edge of the box, but his attempt is straight at Heaton who tips over for a corner that comes to nothing.
OVER THE BAR! Firmino this time, once again from distance.
A snapshot of the game so far via the Premier League:
SUB: Jutkiewicz replaces goalscorer Vokes for the home side.
BLOCK! Coutinho has a goal-bound effort blocked by the Burnley defence. It’s almost now or never stage.
WIDE! Shot number 22 for Liverpool goes over the bar, Grujic with the wild effort.
SHOT! We’re heading into the stoppage time and this time Clyne drags his shot across the box. Three minutes to be added on.
SUB: Burnley make their final change of the game as Andre Gray receives a standing ovation when he is replaced by O’Neill.
It’s all over. Burnley 2-0 winners over Liverpool.
The Clarets are up and running and beat Liverpool in the league for the first time in 42 years in the process.
Thank you for joining us this afternoon. We’ll have all the post-match reaction throughout the evening.