Burnley 0-1 Liverpool Player Ratings: Ryan Gravenberch 8.5/10 Rated as Salah's Last-Gasp Penalty Snatches 1-0 Win

What we expected was an easy outing for the defending champions in the gameweek 4 against Burnley, but it turned out to be a frustrating evening for the Reds. The game started with the 20-time league champions Liverpool working their way up with passes from the back, but they were confronted by the Claret and Blue wall. The home side looked way more organized and disciplined, but what surprised us was the lack of attacking intent, as the front trio of Salah, Wirtz, and Ekitike were rarely seen on the ball in the final third. Although the visitors had the statistical advantage of 78.3% possession, with xG of 0.91 to Burnley's 21.7% possession and xG of 0.12. However, they were simply unable to produce a decisive ball for their forwards in the box.

The visitors came out with more attacking intent and looked threatening after the inclusion of Conor Bradley at right back, pushing Szoboszlai into his natural position in midfield. It was evident that several players, including Wirtz, got close, but his effort was wide of the far post. The Merseyside club continued to pile up pressure on the home side, with Chiesa almost scoring the opening goal. But the Italian forward couldn't convert it. That's not it. Liverpool got the advantage with Burnley going down to 10 men with Ugochukwu's clumsy tackle on Wirtz in a dangerous position. To be honest, throughout the outing, Liverpool's lack of decisive final ball in the box was a disappointment.

As the saying goes, 'Fortune favors the brave'. The Liverpool team, who worked tirelessly, finally got rewarded just before the final whistle. As the substitute Frimpong's cross struck Mejbri's hand, giving away a penalty. And the Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah didn't make any mistakes and gave his team the much-deserved lead in the final moments. You've got to feel bad for Burnley; they fought so well for the draw, but couldn't hold onto it till the end. But an entertaining showdown came to an end between Burnley and Liverpool with the scoreline of 0-1. Here are the Burnley vs Liverpool player ratings.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Burnley

Here are the Liverpool player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Alisson - 6.5: Had one of the quietest afternoons of his career. Burnley barely mustered a shot on target, leaving him as a virtual spectator. His distribution was reliable on the few occasions he was called upon, passing with 92% accuracy.

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk - 7.5: A captain's performance. He was an absolute colossus at the back, winning 10 of his 11 duels. What stood out was his effortless dominance in the air, winning eight aerial battles. He was calm under pressure and initiated attacks from deep, a truly composed display.

Ibrahima Konaté - 8.0: Physically immense and aggressive. Konaté was a monster, winning a staggering 13 duels and making his presence felt all over the pitch. He was a constant threat on set pieces, too, though he'll be disappointed to have missed a big chance with a header.

Milos Kerkez - 5.5: A disappointing and brief outing. He struggled to make an impact and picked up a needless yellow card for simulation. It was no surprise to us when he was substituted after just 38 minutes.

Dominik Szoboszlai - 7.0: He was listed as a defender but played with the heart of an attacker. Took an incredible six shots, constantly testing the Burnley defence from distance. His energy was infectious, and his long-range passing was superb, but his final product just wasn't quite there today.

Midfielders

Florian Wirtz - 7.0: The creative hub for Liverpool, always looking for a killer pass. He created four chances for his teammates, but was often crowded out by a compact Burnley midfield. You could see his frustration growing as the game went on. A good performance but he couldn't unlock the door.

Alexis Mac Allister - 6.0: A very quiet first half. He kept possession ticking over neatly but failed to impose his will on the game. He was hooked at halftime, a decision that felt justified as Liverpool needed more attacking impetus.

Mohamed Salah - 7.0: For 94 minutes, it was a night of immense frustration for Salah. He was well-marshalled and couldn't find any space. But when the moment came, he showed nerves of steel. He stepped up and buried the penalty without a second thought. That's what defines a world-class player.

C. Gakpo - 6.5: Incredibly busy, but incredibly wasteful. He was involved in everything, taking five shots and attempting 13 crosses. From our perspective, his decision-making let him down repeatedly. The Dutchman created a big chance, but his overall contribution felt inefficient.

Ryan Gravenberch - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was simply outstanding. Gravenberch was the engine in Liverpool's midfield, driving forward with powerful dribbles and constantly looking to create. He created four chances and was the player who looked most likely to break the deadlock from open play.

Forwards

Hugo Ekitiké - 6.0: He showed flashes of his talent with some neat dribbles but struggled to find space against a deep-lying defence. He worked hard for the team but ultimately couldn't get into dangerous scoring positions. His substitution felt inevitable as Liverpool chased the game.

Substitutes

Andy Robertson - 7.0: Came on for Kerkez and immediately offered more width and attacking threat. A very effective substitution.

Conor Bradley - 6.0: Brought energy but also recklessness, picking up a silly yellow card. A mixed bag.

Federico Chiesa - 6.0: Had a brief cameo and missed one headed chance. Not enough time to make a real mark.

Manager

A. Slot - 7.0: His team completely dominated the match but lacked the clinical edge. His changes were logical, aiming to inject more creativity and width. Ultimately, his side's persistence paid off, and he'll be relieved to leave with all three points, no matter how ugly the win was.

Burnley Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Here are the Burnley player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Martin Dúbravka - 5.5: Made a few important saves to keep his team in it. However, his distribution was atrocious, completing just 16% of his passes. He constantly invited pressure back onto his defence by giving the ball away.

Defenders

Kyle Walker - 6.0: Had a very tough assignment against Liverpool's fluid attack. He stuck to his defensive duties diligently but struggled in possession, often losing the ball. A battling performance but he was on the back foot all game.

Quilindschy Hartman - 8.0: A heroic defensive effort. He was a magnet for the ball, racking up an incredible six interceptions and nine clearances. He read the game brilliantly and was a key reason Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Maxime Estève - 7.5: Another warrior at the heart of the Burnley defence. He made a staggering 12 clearances and put his body on the line with three blocked shots. He was disciplined and composed for so long, a real pillar of strength.

Hjalmar Ekdal - 7.5: An absolute beast in the air, winning four crucial aerial duels. He was instrumental in repelling the constant barrage of Liverpool crosses. A classic, no-nonsense defensive display full of heart and determination.

Josh Laurent - 4.5: From our perspective, he was the weak link in the Burnley side. He was dribbled past four times and struggled to cope with the movement of Liverpool's midfield runners.

Midfielders

Lesley Ugochukwu - 4.0: A disastrous performance that ultimately cost his team. He looked off the pace and his challenges were clumsy. The two yellow cards were avoidable, and his 84th-minute dismissal left his team completely exposed.

Jaidon Anthony - 6.0: Worked tirelessly as an outlet on the counter-attack but was mostly isolated. He showed glimpses of danger but had a thankless task with very little support.

Loum Tchaouna - 5.0: A very anonymous display. He struggled to get involved in the game, only touching the ball 16 times in his 63 minutes on the pitch. Offered little defensively or offensively before being substituted.

Josh Cullen - 7.0: The captain led by example during his time on the pitch. He was tenacious in the tackle and broke up plays effectively. His energy in midfield was crucial, and we were surprised to see him substituted.

Forwards

Lyle Foster - 5.0: Had the most difficult job on the pitch. He chased shadows all game, completely starved of service. He lost nine of his ten aerial duels against Liverpool's giant centre-backs.

Substitutes

Hannibal Mejbri - 4.5: Came on to help see out the game but had a moment of pure madness, conceding the penalty with a clear handball.

Florentino - 6.0: Tried to add fresh legs to the midfield battle but couldn't turn the tide.

Manager

S. Parker - 6.5: His game plan was almost perfect. He set his team up to be incredibly difficult to break down, and for 84 minutes, it worked a treat. The discipline and organization were top-notch. He was ultimately let down by individual errors from his players.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Ryan Gravenberch