TheCable

Liverpool suffered more misery in the English Premier League (EPL) on Thursday night after they lost 0-1 to Burnley at Anfield courtesy of a penalty kick that was converted by Ashley Barnes.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were dropped to the bench as Divock Origi and Xerdan Shaqiri completed the forward line alongside Sadio Mane.

Both Origi and Shaqiri were however guilty of missing clear-cut opportunities for the luckless champions.

Liverpool had 13 shots in the opening 45 minutes — their most in the first half of an EPL game without scoring since December 2017 — and Origi who had their best chance of the night hit the bar when clean through on goal.

1 – This was Liverpool’s first defeat in 69 Premier League games at Anfield (W55 D13) since losing 1-2 to Crystal Palace in April 2017. It was the second-longest unbeaten home run in English top-flight history, after Chelsea’s 86 games ending in October 2008. Smash. pic.twitter.com/aym7hcTcpF

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 21, 2021

Despite the introduction of Salah and Firmino, Liverpool could not breach their visitor’s net. They were later punished late on from the penalty spot.

Alisson Becker, Liverpool goalkeeper, brought down Barnes and the striker dusted himself up to convert the spot-kick for his 100th league goal.

The defeat brings Liverpool’s 68-match unbeaten record at Anfield to a stunning end as the Reds suffered their first EPL home loss since April 2017.

The Reds also last scored in their 7-0 win at Crystal Palace on December 17.

Liverpool are now in the fourth position with 34 points from 19 matches.