Liverpool beat Burnley 2-0 in Premier League

SMA NEWS – LIVERPOOL

Liverpool welcomed fans back to Anfield by securing a second straight victory of the new Premier League campaign, but they were made to work for their 2-0 victory by a spirited Burnley.

Afterwards, Jurgen Klopp suggested the recent softening of refereeing was taking the game “10 to 15 years backwards” and likened some of the tackling to “wrestling”.

Sean Dyche’s side caused Liverpool plenty of problems, but the hosts showed their clinical edge in front of goal as Diogo Jota (18) headed Kostas Tsimikas’ inch-perfect cross past Nick Pope to break the deadlock.

Liverpool, who saw a Mohamed Salah effort ruled out for offside by VAR towards the end of the first half, following a pass from youngster Harvey Elliott on his first Premier League start, were given a warning early in the second half when Ashley Barnes’s strike was correctly ruled out by the offside flag, but it wasn’t long before Klopp’s side took firm control of the game.

And the points were eventually made safe when Sadio Mane finished off a fine team move to continue their perfect start to the season and extend Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to 12 matches, with Klopp