Liverpool have moved into the top four in the Premier League table courtesy of a 3-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.
The victory has seen Jurgen Klopp's side move above Leicester City into fourth position, with the two teams set to battle it out for the final Champions League spot this weekend.
The Merseyside outfit are only ahead of the Foxes, who host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, on goal difference, but a win over Crystal Palace at Anfield should be enough to secure a top-four finish.
Both sides had chances in an incredibly open first period, but it was the visitors that made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute when Roberto Firmino turned a low Andrew Robertson cross into the back of the net.
Burnley made a positive start to the second half, but Liverpool took the match away from the home side in the 52nd minute when Nat Phillips headed a Sadio Mane cross past Will Norris.
The Clarets were still having their moments, with Chris Wood always a threat in the final third, but Sean Dyche's team were struggling to show a cutting edge inside the box.
Liverpool were too strong on the night, though, and scored a third late on when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drilled a low effort into the back of the net after working the space.
The Reds, as mentioned, finish at home to Palace this weekend, while Burnley will be looking to bounce back from two defeats when they travel to Sheffield United.
HIGHLIGHTS
2nd min: Mohamed Salah breaks into the Burnley box after a wonderful pass from Robertson, but Burnley defender Ben Mee is across to make an excellent block.
3rd min: Big chance for Mane as a deflected cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold falls for the attacker, but he somehow misses the target from close range.
10th min: Alisson Becker does well to claim the ball as a period of panic inside the Liverpool box leads to Dwight McNeil poking the ball towards Chris Wood, who almost makes contact.
16th min: Opportunity for Firmino this time as Mane's clever flick finds the Brazilian, but he just misses the post during a period where Liverpool are threatening to make the breakthrough.
26th min: Huge chance for Burnley to take the lead as a long ball bounces inside the Liverpool box, but Wood misses the post; big moment for the home side here.
Huge chance for Burnley but Chris Wood blasts his effort wide!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2021
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29th min: Another chance, this time for Liverpool, as Firmino finds Thiago inside the Burnley box, but the midfielder turns and fires wide of the far post.
30th min: Salah breaks into a dangerous position for the away side, but the Egypt international blazes over the crossbar under pressure from Mee.
39th min: Smart save from Alisson to keep out a strike from McNeil as Burnley continue to work the ball into dangerous positions, with the score level approaching the break.
40th min: Incredible challenge from James Tarkowski this time to deny Mane, who was lining up a shot in a very dangerous position.
41st min: Phillips fires over the Burnley crossbar from inside the penalty box; the centre-back was leaning backwards and his attempt was always too high.
43rd min: Liverpool make the breakthrough at Turf Moor as a low cross from Robertson is slotted into the back of the net by the grateful Firmino.
Breakthrough for #LFC! 💥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2021
Roberto Firmino is on the scoresheet again as he gives his side the lead at Turf Moor!
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50th min: Salah has a half-chance for Liverpool as he breaks into a shooting position, but the attacker fires wide of the near post as it remains 1-0 to the away side here.
52nd min: Phillips scores his first Liverpool goal as the centre-back heads a dangerous Mane cross into the back of the net; super effort from the Englishman.
What a time to get your first #LFC goal...âš½
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2021
Nat Phillips' header makes it 2-0 to the visitors!
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65th min: Salah breaks into the Burnley box and looks to have a shooting chance, but Charlie Taylor does just about enough to put the Egyptian off at the final moment.
68th min: Excellent defending from Phillips to clear a Mee header off the line as Burnley come close to scoring during a vital stage of the match.
88th min: Liverpool have their third in the final exchanges as Oxlade-Chamberlain works space inside the Burnley box before drilling a low effort into the back of the net.
MAN OF THE MATCH - NAT PHILLIPS
© Reuters
Phillips did not have a perfect night for the Reds as there were occasions, certainly in the first period, when Burnley should have scored, but the centre-back, who cleared a Mee header off the line in the second period, still enjoyed a standout game.
The 24-year-old has faced criticism this season, but he was a force inside his own penalty box at Turf Moor and scored his first Liverpool goal with a towering header during a vital stage of the match.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
Wood had a big chance to send Burnley ahead in the 26th minute of the contest, with a long ball bouncing kindly for the striker inside the Liverpool penalty box, but he fired wide of the post.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed another impressive season for the Clarets, scoring 12 Premier League goals, but he will not look back on this particular incident too fondly, especially as Liverpool managed to make the breakthrough in the closing stages of the first period.
BEST STAT
âš½ Nat Phillips has scored his first career goal in his 42nd senior match (20th app for Liverpool)
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 19, 2021
He's the 8th different player to score a headed PL goal for Liverpool this season pic.twitter.com/aduk7l4F0w
MATCH STATS
Possession: Burnley 41%-59% Liverpool
Shots: Burnley 10-20 Liverpool
Shots on target: Burnley 4-3 Liverpool
Corners: Burnley 6-7 Liverpool
Fouls: Burnley 10-7 Liverpool
LINEUPS
BURNLEY (4-3-3): Norris; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Brownhill, Westwood, Cork (Vydra 76'); Gudmundsson, Wood, McNeil
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Williams, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Wijnaldum (Milner 87'); Salah, Firmino (Oxlade-Chamberlain 81'), Mane (Tsimikas 92')
No Data Analysis info
