Match report: Liverpool beaten by Burnley at Turf Moor

Sam Vokes stunned Jürgen Klopp’s side with a fierce finish from the edge of the area in the second minute and the buoyant hosts doubled their advantage through another clinical hit from Andre Gray before the break.

The Clarets then stood firm to prevent the away team from conjuring any clear-cut opportunities and that meant a disappointing result in the second match of 2016-17.

Liverpool’s teamsheet showed two changes from last Sunday’s victory over Arsenal – James Milner and Daniel Sturridge replaced Alberto Moreno and the injured Sadio Mane respectively.

As at Emirates Stadium, though, Klopp’s men conceded the opening goal – and on this occasion within two minutes of kick-off.

Nathaniel Clyne’s pass infield from the right flank was stolen by Gray and the ball was quickly moved forward to his strike partner Vokes, who in one motion turned and smacked a shot into the top corner.

The home crowd exploded and as the morning’s deluge of rain gave way to clearer conditions, the Clarets grew in confidence, testing their visitors with a series of knocks over the top and around the back four.

Philippe Coutinho momentarily threatened twice but each of his curlers from left of centre flew over the crossbar, while Adam Lallana saw an effort from a similar position crucially blocked by Stephen Ward.

Playing from the right side of the forward three meant licence for Sturridge to move in and shoot with his left foot and the No.15 fired yards wide from one such situation on the half-hour mark.

But Liverpool fell two goals behind seven minutes later.

New Burnley signing Steven Defour led a charge through the middle and capitalised on a fortunate bounce off Ragnar Klavan to tee up Gray, who side-stepped two tackles and lashed a low left-footer across Simon Mignolet into the far corner.

Work to be done in the second half, then, and the manager’s instructions during the interval ensured a much more industrious start from his team.

Sturridge dragged a shot harmlessly wide from a narrow angle and combined with Georginio Wijnaldum to create a chance for Coutinho that was saved comfortably by Tom Heaton.

The Burnley goalkeeper was worked considerably harder on 52 minutes when Roberto Firmino launched an ambitious blast from distance that was on course for the top corner until it was clawed out on the stretch.

In the 64th minute, Klopp made his first substitution, changing up the attack by introducing Divock Origi for Sturridge.

By now Liverpool were enjoying the majority of possession and the game was mostly being played in the Clarets’ territory, but without any real chances to speak of.

And the threat posed on the counter by Burnley, particularly with the pace of Gray, was always there, with Jordan Henderson required to chase back and snuff out one dangerous breakaway.

Marko Grujic and Moreno were sent on in the closing stages and the former worked Heaton on 78 minutes with a poked shot that the ‘keeper tipped over as it was rising towards him.

Coutinho had the latest in a string of strikes blocked by Matthew Lowton as the final seconds ticked away and it was Burnley who took the three points at Turf Moor.