Burnley 1-2 Liverpool: Player Ratings 

Burnley hosted Liverpool on Matchday 22 of the Premier League and despite the gulf in their respective financial positions, the game was touted to be a close affair, especially with Sean Dyche’s men troubling the supposedly bigger side.

It was Liverpool who took the lead through Sadio Mane in the 61st minute after a rather pedestrian first half before Gudmundsson struck home in the 87th minute to give his side a sniff of an important draw. However, Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan combined to give the visitors the lead very deep into the stoppage time to break Burnley's hearts.

Here are the player ratings from the game between the Clarets and the Reds.

Burnley

Nick Pope – 6

The Burnley shot stopper looked largely in control of the proceedings in his box and was a dominant presence. While there was very little that he could have done to keep both the Liverpool goals from going in, his distribution needs to improve massively for him to actually be in contention for the English national team.

Charlie Taylor – 7

Taylor spent a large amount of time in his own half as he was constantly threatened by Liverpool on the right flank and to his credit, he did well to restrict Liverpool on the flank for the first hour. However, his inability to stop Trent Alexander Arnold from crossing into the box resulted in the visitor’s first goal. He soon made amends with a delightful cross for Sam Vokes to head on to the path of Gudmundsson for his side’s equaliser.

Ben Mee – 7

Mee led his troops well against Jurgen Klopp's side.

Mee was arguably the best defender on the pitch. He made several crucial tackles and interceptions to keep Liverpool at bay. He made 2 crucial tackles, won 5 interceptions and effected 1 interception and 2 blocks to ensure that the visitors were left frustrated for large durations of the game.

James Tarkowski – 7

Tarkowski, who was Mee’s partner in crime, had an equally impressive game as he showed great composure on and off the ball. He was a constant thorn in the flesh of the Liverpool attack and while not entirely being tidy with his passing, he showed great resolve alongside Mee to ensure that his side were in with a fighting chance until the very last minute of the game.

Phil Bardsley – 6

The 32-year-old right-back made a crucial interception in the 1st half to deny Dominic Solanke in the box and was a source of constant trouble for Joe Gomez. He bombed forward at every given opportunity yet ensured that the visitors found little joy going forward.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson – 7

Gudmundsson's industriousness paid its reward when he was presented with an open Liverpool goal to nod home his side's equaliser.

Even before he scored Burnley’s equaliser, Gudmundson had been impressive for the Clarets. His ability to whip in crosses by cutting in from the right were on display yet again and he constantly looked to test the often fragile Liverpool defence by delivering dangerous balls into the box. He was duly rewarded for his industry with a goal but it could not stop his side from beginning the year with a loss.

Steven Defour – 6

Defour was Burnley’s leading creator in chief yet again while also ensuring that he did his fair share of dirty work in the middle of the park. He created 2 goal scoring opportunities apart from winning 2 tackles in the centre of the park and effecting an impressive 3 interceptions to make it an all-round performance from the Belgian international.

Jack Cork – 5

To be honest, Cork was perhaps the least impressive Burnley player on the pitch against the Reds. The former Southampton and Swansea man failed to leave his mark on the game and was largely a bystander whose best contributions came via him thumping the ball away from his own goal.

Scott Arfield – 7.5

The Canadian international was perhaps the biggest threat to the Liverpool goal during the first 60 minutes. He constantly turned and twisted his way around the opposition's midfield and also created 3 vital goal scoring opportunities that his side failed to capitalise upon. What was perhaps even more impressive was his defensive contribution as the midfielder put in an industrious showing to keep his side in the game.

Jeff Hendrick – 5

Hendrick made some good runs behind the Liverpool defence but failed to time them on more than one occasion and those were perhaps his brightest moments in the game. Yes, he was tidy with the ball but a lot more was expected from the Irish international against a depleted Liverpool unit and failed to deliver.

Ashley Barnes – 6

The result could have been a lot different had Barnes taken the chances that came his way. While they were difficult chances to begin with, it is perhaps the ability to grab on to them that would make him indispensable to the side. He had 4 shots but failed to truly test Mignolet with his efforts.

Substitutes

Sam Vokes – 7

Vokes came on in the 70th minute with his side chasing the game and instantly made an impact with his presence in and around the box. It was the Welshman’s glanced header that found its way to Gudmundsson for his side’s equaliser and his performance was an indication to suggest that he needs to start more often than he does at the moment.

Nahki Wells – NA

Wells was brought on in the 85th minute for the Scott Arfield.

Liverpool

Klopp will be a happy man after his side eked out an important win.

Simon Mignolet – 6

Some Liverpool fans would deem Simon Mignolet guilty for letting the ball bounce in his 6-yard box for the Burnley equaliser and their criticism would be justified. While not tested for large durations, he had his fair share of nervy moments on the ball and this performance is perhaps another indication that Liverpool need to sign a replacement at the earliest.

Joe Gomez – 5

Gomez was deployed in the unfamiliar left-back role against the Clarets and it would be fair to say that he struggled. He was guilty of giving away the possession on numerous occasions and looked nervy even while defending. Add to that his inability to track the run of Gudmundsson for the host’s equaliser and you can understand his poor rating. Not a lot was expected from going forward and all in all, it was a performance that the young English defender would not be proud of.

Ragnar Klavan – 7

Klavan stole the limelight with a vital last-minute winner to help his side eke out a vital win away from home. However, he looked comfortable through large durations of the game, on and off the ball and is establishing himself as a vital backup option for Klopp.

Dejan Lovren – 8

Lovren provided the all-important assist for Klavan's goal.

Yes, there were moments in the game where Lovren looked out of position and susceptible to a defensive error. However, the Croatian put in a decent performance at the defensive end of the pitch, making several vital interceptions and tackles to ensure that the chasing the Burnley side could not find a way in until very late in the game. He played a crucial part in his side’s winner as it was his header that Klavan guided home.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 5

Alexander-Arnold was another Liverpool defender who had a poor game. He gave away the ball far too easily and his crossing was rather ordinary until his cross found its way to Sadio Mane for Liverpool’s opener. He went close himself with a superb effort from the right but that was perhaps his last attacking contribution in the game.

Emre Can – 7

The German was at his industrious best yet again as he kept a check on the Burnley midfield with a mix of tackles, interceptions, and blocks. On an evening where the Burnley midfield looked the hungrier, Can was the only Liverpool player who brought some bite to the middle of the park.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 5

What is it with the Dutchman and away games? Wijnaldum yet again went missing in an important away game as he was largely restricted to being a spectator. While he did clock a passing accuracy in excess of 90%, there were a lot of sideways and backward passes and he looked bereft of ideas going forward.

Adam Lallana – 6

Lallana started his first Premier League game of the season and going by his showing, he will soon find his place on the Liverpool bench. Yes, there were the odd moments of silky brilliance that has often been associated with him but the English international was guilty of spending too much time on the ball and often slowed down Liverpool’s attack.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7

The former Arsenal man is proving to be an astute buy by Jurgen Klopp with every passing week. He was Liverpool’s most enterprising player on the evening with his ability on the ball and pace off it. His distribution of the ball was good and he came close to scoring in the 2nd half. However, it was his perfectly weighted free-kick that found Lovren for Liverpool’s winner.

Sadio Mane – 7

Mane produced a moment of magic to give his side the lead against Burnley.

It had largely been a frustrating evening for Mane until the 61st minute. The Senegalese attacker looked a shadow of himself until the clock struck the hour mark as he was isolated going forward and found very little support from his teammates. However, he did make amends for a rather pedestrian first half with a sublime effort in the 61st minute to give his side the lead.

Dominic Solanke – 6

The young English striker was afforded only his 3rd start in the Premier League and while he was a bundle of energy every time his side got hold of the ball, he received very little creative input and that hurt his chances of finding the back of the net.

Substitutes

Roberto Firmino – NA

Firmino was brought on for Sadio Mane as Liverpool looked to consolidate their lead.

James Milner – NA

Milner replaced Lallana in the 85th minute.

Joel Matip – NA

The Cameroonian was brought on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the final minute of the game.