Liverpool reclaim top spot with 3-1 win over battling Burnley

LIVERPOOL, England :Liverpool reclaimed top spot in the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Burnley at Anfield on Saturday, but they were made to battle by a brave visiting side before claiming all three points.

Liverpool are on 54 points, two clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand. Burnley remain second from bottom on 13 points.

Goals from Dioga Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez saw off a Burnley side which had gone in level at the break with a Dara O'Shea goal.

Manchester City's 2-0 win over Everton earlier on Saturday had seen Pep Guardiola's side move one point ahead in the table, and a packed Anfield expected a blistering start from the home side looking to reclaim top spot.

Instead, the stadium record attendance for a league game of 59,896 saw Burnley pose the greatest threat early on as Liverpool struggled to find a foothold.

Juergen Klopp had to make do without keeper Alisson and defender Joe Gomez, both out with flu, and the suspended Ibrahima Konate.

Andy Robertson made his first start since October and Wataru Endo was straight back into the team following Asian Cup duty with Japan, with Caoimhin Kelleher filling in between the posts.

Kelleher was called into action early on, coming out to block down an effort from Zeki Amdouni as Burnley created the early danger.

Liverpool began to grow into the game but had little to show for their efforts until Burnley keeper James Trafford's error at the corner kick.

Alexander-Arnold whipped the corner in and Trafford came out to claim it but got nowhere near the ball and Jota had an easy header to give Liverpool the lead in the 31st minute.

Burnley never gave up, and in the 45th minute O'Shea directed a powerful header from a corner beyond Kelleher into the far top corner