Burnley 0-3 Liverpool: 3 reasons why the Reds won

Liverpool remain the only side in all of English football to maintain a perfect winning record this season with their 3-0 dispatching of Burnley. The Merseyside giants have now won 13 Premier League games on the trot, a club record.

Perhaps the aspect of more significance to their season is getting all 12 available points to them so far this season. It puts a 2-point gap between Manchester City and them, which even this early in the season will put them under pressure.

While Mohamed Salah missed out on a goal himself, Mane and Firmino were on target. The scoring was, however, opened by a freak own goal by Chris Wood when Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected cross looped into nick Pope's goal.

Liverpool go into the international break top of the Premier League table, and will hope to stay there for a long time.

Firmino – the 'defensive' midfielder

Firmino's performance will give Burnley's Tarkowski nightmares

He may be the point of Liverpool's attacking trio, but his work-rate and ability to nick the ball off opposing players in advanced areas is something we now expect from Liverpool. When the Brazilian is not on the pitch, we still expect it and are often disappointed when it doesn't happen.

He became the first Brazilian to hit the 50-goal mark in the Premier League with his goal against Burnley, but Liverpool could get that from many strikers. Firmino's all round play and ability to link up with his team-mates makes him one of a kind.

If you stuck him in defensive midfield, he would do a fair job there as well, apart from perhaps the tendency to keep going forward. The Brazilian's assist and goal were the cherry on top of a superb all-round performance from him.

Everything went wrong for Burnley

Nick Pope denied Mohamed Salah at least twice before Liverpool snuck ahead

Burnley looked reasonably comfortable for the first 30 minutes. Well, as comfortable as you can be against a supremely talented Liverpool side. They were unfortunate that Trent Alexander-Arnold's attempted cross from a deep position nicked off Chris Wood and looped up and past Nick Pope to loop into the top left corner.

Pope had been magnificent till then, making at least two notable saves and keeping his side in the game. Burnley were even finding their feet in attack and seemed likely to score at some point, but the goal and the manner it came in deflated them.

Not too long after, Ben Mee's uncharacteristically weak pass was intercepted by Firmino, and he set Mane free to make it 2-0 at the break.

Burnley seemed for a while in the second half like they still believed, and on one particular occasion when Adrian had strayed away from his goal, Jay Rodriguez could've made Liverpool pay, but the ball just wouldn't settle for him to strike it. All in all, an almost day for the home side.

Defensive assurance

Van Dijk was named UEFA Men's Player of the Year just a few days ago

Liverpool may have a perfect record so far, but their defence was unquestionably shaky in the first few games. They looked more vulnerable at the back in the first three games than they did at any point during the whole of last season.

Against this Burnley side with Ashley Barnes in form, they seemed to have regained their solidity. There were questions raised ahead of the game about their ability to deal with the in form Burnley attack, but not only did they manage the threat, they completely nullified it.

On the occasions that Burnley's crossing got more dangerous, Van Dijk and Matip were both present to clear any looming danger. Fabinho also looked to be in good nick protecting the back line. Between him and Matip, they also managed to distribute the ball well from the back.