Liverpool vs Burnley result: Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane ensure Alisson injustice doesn’t affect title race

Liverpool 4-2 Burnley: Alisson was fouled by James Tarkowski as Ashley Westwood’s beautiful corner found the back of the net but the strike-duo ensured the strange day at Anfield did not end in defeat

Roberto Firmino scored twice along with Sadio Mane to secure victory for Liverpool over Burnley (PA)

The four seasons of Liverpool. Anfield was bathed in sunshine half an hour before kick-off. Five minutes into the game, the skies had darkened and the gloom descended, as Burnley took the lead through a goal which should not have stood. Then came the wind, the rain and the hail as Liverpool unleashed at their opponent. It felt like a biblical statement. By the break, they led – and the light and warmth of before had returned. By the end, with Liverpool’s domination reflected by the scoreline, so had the optimism.

This was a day the strange weather matched the mood of the afternoon for Liverpool, whose performance nevertheless suggested they are ready to deal with the emotional challenge of creeping up behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race. The gap is narrowed again to just one point and perhaps being in pursuit of the top rather than being chased suits Liverpool best.

A surprising element of their victory was Adam Lallana’s part. The midfielder’s display was easily one of the best by any Liverpool midfielder this season, full of twists and turns; zeal and creativity. The last two years have not been kind to him, with injury meaning he has not played any significant role in Liverpool’s emergence into a domestic and European force. His substitute appearance in last season’s Champions League final represented how far Liverpool had travelled without him but as he toiled in the heat of Kiev, it felt like a conformation this Liverpool team had passed him by.

Lallana will be 31 years old a couple of months from now but his influence here reminded he is not finished, with Jurgen Klopp’s decision to include him ahead of Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson justified. Lallana, indeed, did a lot of the things Keita was brought in to do but insofar hasn’t really been able to. It felt like the last two years had not actually happened.

Like at Turf Moor in December, Liverpool would fall behind to Burnley but recover. Yet the manner and timing of Burnley’s opener fired up Liverpool and the Anfield crowd. Ashley Westwood’s beautiful arcing corner went straight in but James Tarkowski had pulled Alisson Becker down and the Brazilian was furious, earning a booking.

With that burning sense of injustice, Anfield and Liverpool growled. Both of the first half goals that followed involved Lallana, who showed vision in finding Mohamed Salah for the equaliser and then determination to block a clearance by Phil Bardsley for the second.

While Salah’s cross slipped through the zone of uncertainty between goalkeeper and defence, allowing Roberto Firmino to score, Salah may have been fouled by Tarkowski when Liverpool took the lead through Sadio Mane’s brilliant finish. Tarkowski, indeed, had been involved in each of the three first half goals because he was the defender who had failed to deal with Salah’s assist when Liverpool made it 1-1.

Westwood's corner went straight into the Liverpool net to give Burnley the lead (Reuters)

Burnley, dressed all in white, were not Real Madrid - or maybe, in some current way, they were. But that is not a criticism. Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip were in a game because of the strength and mobility of Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood. Their presence in a two-man attack, however, left Liverpool gaps further up the pitch.

For all of their sprightliness and for all of their control, it was only when Tom Heaton hashed a goalkick that Liverpool were able to extend their lead. In a swirling sky, Salah did well to take ownership of the ball and race away but he did hesitate and this gave Charlie Taylor the opportunity to tackle him. Firmino, though, was there to mop up in front of the Kop.

With thoughts drifting towards what might happen in Munich on Wednesday night, there were two more goals in injury time. The first came from Burnley – forced in by the substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Liverpool realised they still had a little bit to do and with Burnley committing men forward, Daniel Sturridge – another substitute – found Mane with a pass and by rounding Heaton, his goal gave a fairer reflection of what had happened.