Liverpool strike early and late at Burnley

Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota helped Liverpool end 2023 on a winning note, their early and late goals enough for the Reds to outlast Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor on Boxing Day.

Nunez lashed home his fifth goal of the Premier League season off a Cody Gakpo set-up in sixth minute, and the Reds were rarely threatened in the win. Jota returned from injury and scored in the 90th minute, also his fifth of the PL campaign, to salt away the win.

Liverpool had goals from Harvey Elliott and Gakpo taken off the board following VAR review in the second half.

WATCH BURNLEY v LIVERPOOL FULL MATCH REPLAY STREAM

Liverpool go atop the Premier League table for at least two days unless Aston Villa beat Manchester United by a half-dozen goals later Tuesday.

Vincent Kompany's Burnley won't have lost much confidence after this performance, which followed a 2-0 win at Fulham before Christmas. The Clarets could've scored on the day even if no one would mistake their day for a winning one.

Liverpool's 42 points are two more than Arsenal and three superior to Aston Villa. Burnley's 11 points are good for 19th place, five back of 17th-place Everton.

Liverpool deliver workmanlike win at Turf Moor

Liverpool's slumping score line again reared its head, but this match wasn't really a 1-0 or even a 2-0 (at least in the first half).

The Reds saw two goals taken off the board for accurate interpretations of rules that should hardly diminish the quality of the chances that were not allowed to stay on the scoreboard.

Not that Liverpool should trumpet what could've been a 3-0 win over a lower-half side, but most of Jurgen Klopp's concerns will be neatly divided into two camps: the goals that could've stood and a lukewarm second half that appeared to show both teams ready enough to go home.

In fact, a terrible giveaway from Wataru Endo nearly allowed Jacob Bruun Larsen to blast the Clarets a point. Poetic justice, however, was done for the visitors as the ball bounded wide for a goal kick.

What’s next?

Burney goes to Aston Villa at 12:30pm ET Saturday, while Liverpool's next match is in 2024 — a 3pm ET Monday visit from slumping Newcastle United.

Burnley vs Liverpool final score: 0-2

Goal: Nunez (6'), Jota (90')

Another Reds goal taken off the board

Harvey Elliott thinks he has the Reds in front by two, but did his shot flash past an interfering Mohamed Salah?

Paul Tierney is called over to the pitchside monitor, and he sees an offside Salah in the way of James Trafford's line of sight.

It stays 1-0.

Halftime: 1-0, an almost exclusively Liverpool affair

The Reds had a second goal taken off the board for a foul, as Cody Gakpo cashed in from distance.

It really should've been at least 2-0, as the Reds kept 68% of the ball and out-attempted the Clarets 14-2 over 45 minutes.

James Trafford has seven saves from eight shots so far, as the ex-Man City man is making it difficult for Liverpool to run away with this.

Darwin Nunez goal (video)

Burnley had a bright start but it's a memory now as the white-clad Reds have a 1-0 lead.

Cody Gakpo has the ball just inside the left of the Burnley box, and he's got time to pick out a man.

He chooses Darwin Nunez, and the Uruguyan zooms one home from distance.

How to watch Burnley vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time

Kick off: 12:30pm ET, Tuesday (December 26)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC.com

Burnley lineup

Liverpool lineup

Focus on Burnley, team news

The Clarets will look to roll out the same team which did so well at Fulham but Kompany does have some options on the bench. The experienced trio of Redmond, Rodriguez and Roberts may start.

OUT: Jack Cork (undisclosed), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (undisclosed), Luca Koleosho (knee), Aaron Ramsey (knock)

Focus on Liverpool, team news

Klopp may well give Elliott, Gravenberch and Nunez starts after they were on the bench against Arsenal and Liverpool do have good squad depth in midfield and attack. However, they are struggling defensively as Gomez is likely to start at left back with Tsimikas now out.

OUT: Diogo Jota (undisclosed), Joel Matip (torn ACL - out for season), Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (groin), Alexis Mac Allister (knee), Kostas Tsimikas (shoulder)