Liverpool vs Burnley: Five things we learned as Roberto Fimino and Sadio Mane seal win

Five things we learned: Liverpool remain one point behind Manchester City after vital win over Burnley

Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring his second goal of the game for Liverpool against Burnley (AFP/Getty)

Vital win keeps Liverpool within touching distance

After the disappointment of losing their lead last weekend and the frustration of Manchester City's win over Watford, three points were essential in order for Liverpool to keep pace.

Ashley Westwood’s controversial opening goal, direct from a corner, was the worst possible start for the title contenders.

But the response, with two goals for Roberto Firmino and two for Sadio Mané, means Jurgen Klopp’s side remain within one point of the leaders.

Even while they topped the table themselves, there has been a sense of late that Liverpool are clinging on to City's coat-tails, scraping through while the champions steam ahead.

But with City in FA Cup action next weekend, this win means Liverpool have an opportunity to rise back to the summit.

City are looking confident of themselves again but the challengers are still right behind them, breathing down their necks.

Burnley goal a reminder of title race’s fine margins

A bad week for officiating got worse on Sunday lunchtime and Liverpool found themselves on the wrong end of a poor call for the second time in the space of 24 hours.

If City’s offside opening goal against Watford had not stung Klopp enough, then Westwood’s early goal direct from a corner rubbed salt in the wounds.

Alisson was clearly impeded by James Tarkowski, who clambered above the Liverpool goalkeeper and prevented him from reaching the ball.

Referee Andre Marriner saw no offence and cautioned Alisson for his protests.

Liverpool have benefitted from several refereeing decisions already this season, of course. Scoring 14 seconds after Fulham had a goal incorrectly disallowed springs to mind.

And decisions in November have just as much of an impact as those in March once it comes to the final analysis.

But the goal was a reminder that at this late stage of the season, there are factors we cannot account for which could decide a title race as close as this one.

Liverpool give perfect response to going behind

And yet, Westwood’s goal - and the attendant sense of injustice - was probably the best thing to happen to Liverpool in the first half.

It inspired a near-immediate response and precipitated the best spell of attacking play they have produced in recent weeks, the win over Watford aside.

For a side whose mentality is so regularly questioned, Liverpool are becoming adept at digging in and responding to adversity.

This was the third time they have fallen behind at Anfield since Christmas. For the third time, they won the game.

It was useful to compare this game to the corresponding fixture last season too. That day, Liverpool fell behind and struck back soon after.

But the second never came, despite much toil. Today, they only had to wait 10 minutes to take the lead.

That is the difference with this side this season and it may still just prove enough to take them to the title.

Lallana proves doubters wrong with excellent display

There was a predictable response to the most surprising selection on Klopp’s teamsheet, as Adam Lallana was handed a start in midfield.

This was only his fourth league start of the campaign and it meant that two more popular players - Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri - would be named among the substitutes.

It is far to say that social media was not too receptive of this decision. Lallana’s stock has fallen sharply during the past two injury-hit seasons.

But the 30-year-old was excellent, both in possession and out of it, playing neat lay-offs to team-mates around the penalty area and harrying Burnley players off the ball.

His block on Phil Bardsley, which essentially created Liverpool’s second, was exactly the sort of play many expected Keita to provide this season.

Lallana’s display was as good as any that the Guinean has offered his arrival. After being on the peripheries of this side for so long, this was a return to form.

Soft goals leave Burnley in trouble

Those representing Burnley while milling around the Anfield press room agreed on one thing at half time: they had let Liverpool back into the game too easily.

And despite Klopp’s side picking up the pace once behind, they were right. The two goals conceded by that point were both soft. The third was softer still.

Burnley will feel as though a point was possible if they had shown their usual grit and organisation at the back.

Instead, the usually dependable Tom Heaton was at fault for two goals and Bardsley was caught out by Lallana for the other.

The result leaves Sean Dyche’s side one place and two points above the relegation zone, with a surprisingly resolute Cardiff City coming up behind.

Despite their improvement of late, they are not nearly out of the woods yet.