A Good Year For Fabinho So Far.

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This is how you know a good team when they can squeeze out results when the opposition was hell-bent on frustrating them. Burnley managed to frustrate Liverpool and didn't give too much away but despite that, Liverpool proved their mettle and made Manchester City know that they aren't going away anytime soon. They didn't need to be at their best to get the result and that's what separates a big team from average teams like Manchester United and the likes (dig intended).

Liverpool managed to get the vital goal and the 3 points after battling hard at Turf Moor. Fabinho came up with the goods despite the presence of Sadio Mane and Salah back into the fold. Jota had to take to the bench as the fixtures list is becoming thicker. Fabinho is having a good year in 2022 after scoring 5 goals already for Liverpool. Hopefully, there would be more to come from him as the crucial part of the season enters.

Burnley looked like they would cause Liverpool some sorts of problems and Brownhill started that with a long-range strike which required the full stretch of Alisson to parry for a corner kick. Burnley has always been known to be stubborn and tough, you would have to ask Manchester United to confirm that.

Mane couldn't find the angle he was hoping for after he was found at the edge of the box and he unselfishly laid a pass into the path of Naby Keita whose power drive shot had to be saved low by the goalkeeper. It was a lovely strike that required the effort of the defender to clear for a corner kick after Nick Pope spilt it.

Burnley wasted a golden chance after Jay Rodriguez managed to hold the ball and found Weghorst just outside the box. He drove into the box and his awful chip over the goalkeeper went nowhere near the post as Alexander Arnold easily cleared it. His chip looked more like a pass, much to his disappointment. It wasn't going well for Burnley as they should have scored after a beautifully executed cross into the box from a freekick picked out Jay Rodriguez and his tame effort couldn't get past Alisson as the scoreline stayed the same.

Mane should have scored for Liverpool too and he fluffed his lines after a lovely inviting cross into the box from a freekick executed by Alexander Arnold picked out Mane inside the box. He tried to guide the ball without exerting too much power on it but the goalkeeper blocked it and the rebound was only good enough to hit the side of the net which let Burnley off the hook.

Liverpool finally got their goal and the only goal of the game which secured the 3 points in the 40th minute after Alexander Arnold delivered his corner kick into the box. Mane met it with a glancing header that went into the path of Fabinho. Fabinho's first strike was blocked by Nick Pope but not the second one as he guided it into the back of the net to break the deadlock.

Weghorst on the other end fired a tame shot at Alisson which was never going to threaten him especially from that kind of range. Firmino on the other end too shocking missed a header after he was found inside the box unmarked. Rather than direct his header on target, he fired over the bar from 3 yards out. It doesn't look like Burnley came with their shooting boots against Liverpool as Cornet was played through on goal and after going one-on-one with Alisson, he opted to take another touch to round off the goalkeeper but Alisson stood firm which narrowed Cornet's angle and he was pressured to fire his shot regardless which made his effort hit the side of the net.

Liverpool could have added a second goal after a lovely through pass found Salah as he was sent through on goal. He managed to beat his marker and he unselfishly laid a pass into the path of Jota but a timely intervention from Tarkowski made Jota's effort to go off the target when it looked like he was destined to score if unchallenged.

Liverpool did enough to win the game and Burnley would have to rue their missed chances. It was enough for Liverpool to keep pace with the league leaders, Manchester City.

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Thank you for your time.

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My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.

Still me,

My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.