With one round of Premier League matches left, Liverpool advanced into the Champions League qualification spots after a 3-0 victory at Burnley on Wednesday moved them past Leicester City and into fourth position.
Burnley vs Liverpool
At the end of a tense first half at Turf Moor, which welcomed fans for the first time in over 14 months, Roberto Firmino’s sixth away goal of the season gave the visitors the lead.
In the 52nd minute, a Nathaniel Phillips header made it 2-0 before Alex Oxlade-sublime Chamberlain’s late strike sealed a fourth consecutive victory. Liverpool now has 66 points, one point ahead of fifth-placed Leicester on goal difference, while Chelsea is in third position with 67 points.
Burnley, however, responded well. In the opening exchanges, Chris Wood hit the side netting from a promising spot, and the Clarets were first to the ball on the line.
With a 25-yard drive, Burnley winger Dwight McNeil forced a decent save from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock.
On Sunday, Jurgen Klopp’s side hosts Crystal Palace at Anfield, while Chelsea travels to Aston Villa and Leicester hosts Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester City, who finished first, and Manchester United, who finished second, have both qualified for the Champions League.
Managers’ Take:
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said, “It was a semi-final. We had to win the semi-final and we did. Nothing is decided yet, but we improved our position and we have the final. That’s what we needed. It’s what we deserve because this was a top performance.”
“You can’t give any chance away against Burnley because of the way they play. They wanted to go for our centre-halves, but our boys did outstandingly well.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche commented, “They’re a clinical side. They’re back purring. They showed that in patches. We created enough to score a goal. That’s been our nemesis this season. They opened us up enough to win the game.”
