02 January,2018 08:29 AM IST | | PA Sport
Defender Klavan's injury-time winner hands Liverpool vital 2-1 win over Burnley and boost Reds chances of clinching Champions League berth
Centre-back Ragnar Klavan was Liverpool's unlikely match-winner at Burnley as his close-range header in the fourth minute of added time made light of the absence of three of the 'Fab Four'. Jurgen Klopp's side looked like they had thrown away two points when Johan Berg Gudmundsson's 88th-minute equaliser cancelled out a stunning strike from Sadio Mane. However, Klavan popped up barely a yard out to nod in from a free-kick move to secure a hard-fought 2-1 win.
Liverpool's Ragnar Klavan (extreme left) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winner against Burnley yesterday. Pic/AFP
With top scorer Mohamed Salah and playmaker Philppe Coutinho injured and Roberto Firmino on the bench, the seven changes Klopp made left his side short of ideas, despite Adam Lallana's first league start of the campaign.
Salah, Coutinho, Firmino and Mane have scored 58 of Liverpool's 77 goals this season - 32 of 48 in the Premier League - so their absence from the starting line-up at the ground which has witnessed only six away goals all season was always likely to be a risky strategy. The Claret's home record, having scored only seven goals themselves, was never likely to lead to an open game and in wet, windy and cold conditions there was little for fans to celebrate the new year with.
16
No. of games Liverpool are now unbeaten in over all competitions
