Liverpool vs. Burnley: *Bumper* Post-Match Analysis

Paul Tomkins, Andrew Beasley, Daniel Rhodes and other TTT regulars will give their thoughts on the match for 24 hours after the game, so the article received via email is unlikely to be the final version. There's statistics from the match and videos too.

Post-Match Thoughts

Paul Tomkins

First-choice keeper? Nope. Top scorer? Nope. And as he’s the top league assister as well? Nope. Fastest player and top-scoring midfielder? Nope. (Now) first-choice left-back? Nope. Best player from January? Nope. Most decorated player? Nope. The 2nd best centre-back in the league? Nope. Best teenage midfielder? Nope. Best teenage attacker? Nope.

Best playmaker? Off at half-time, hamstrung.

Injuries, flu outbreak, death in the family; this squad has it all. Back to double figures in absentees, and then even a home game against Burnley feels a bit different; even with the biggest-ever Anfield league crowd. Maybe fans expected too much from a side that was cobbled together.

There was still more than enough quality, as you’d expect, but the bench was down to kids, back-up goalie kids, and a promising teen making his first matchday appearance.

The 3-1 win was about fair, with some standout performers and a few under par, in a rusty, disjointed lineup where individual quality eventually overcame the lack of balance.

The majority of my analysis and the analysis of the others follows for subscribers only.