National media revamp famous Sir Alex Ferguson phrase after Liverpool win - 'Maybe we should start talking about'

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In a game devoid of any real opportunities, it was left to Mohamed Salah to strike a 95th-minute penalty after Hannibal Mejbri had foolishly handled Jeremie Frimpong's last-gasp cross.

The manner of the victory means the Reds' earliest winning goal across any of their four wins so far has come in the 83rd minute, against Arsenal, with Everton up next in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

As always, the ECHO was on hand to run the rule over proceedings.



Alexander Isak, at least, had an excuse.

"This was a contest in which the Egypt forward had found himself marooned on the periphery, unable to do right for wrong as a couple of crosses that flew straight behind rather than to their intended target testified.

"Salah endured such an afternoon of toil that it was something of a mystery as to why the Liverpool head coach Arne Slot had not hauled him off in search of a breakthrough against a superbly organised Burnley, as he had done earlier with Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.

"And then the substitute Jeremie Frimpong swung over a cross in hope, Hannibal Mejbri looked horrified as the ball struck his right arm and referee Michael Oliver pointed for a penalty.

"Salah, who had missed his past two attempts in pre-season and the Community Shield, held his nerve to bury his kick beyond Martin Dubravka.

In that instant, all of the issues he and his team-mates had suffered were forgotten.

"Salah has now scored 188 Premier League goals, moving ahead of Andrew Cole (187) into outright fourth in the top goalscorers chart, though relief rather than pride was his overriding emotion."

The Mirror's Mark Jones pens: "Eighty-eighth minute, 100th minute, 83rd minute, 95th minute.

Ugochukwu’s trip on Florian Wirtz earned a second yellow."

Will Unwin, over on The Guardian's page, muses: "It never felt inevitable that Liverpool were going to emerge from Turf Moor with three points until Mohamed Salah was lining up a 95th-minute penalty.

"They dominated possession but struggled to break down 10-man Burnley, whose organisation and hard work frustrated the visitors until Hannibal Mejbri’s stoppage-time handball gifted the points to the champions.

"Arne Slot’s side have made a perfect start as they aim to retain the title, a task that should be made easier when he unleashes record £125m signing Alexander Isak, whose exile was extended by another match but it was not self-imposed on this occasion.

With Liverpool lacking conviction in the final third, Isak would have been a welcome addition but, with a fourth straight victory secured, Slot need not worry about that.

"It is the second time in successive games that a late penalty has cost Burnley a draw, having lost last time out at Manchester United in similar circumstances.

After sauntering to a 20th championship last season, Liverpool are already being shown just how onerous the task will be to keep their hands on the shimmering silverware.

"For a fourth game in a row, Arne Slot’s required a dramatic late intervention to maintain the 100% start to their defence of the championship.

"But after the excitement of wins over Bournemouth and Newcastle United plus the satisfaction of landing an early blow on nearest rivals Arsenal, the overriding emotion among both players and supporters on the final whistle at Turf Moor was one of relief.

"Make no mistake, Liverpool – with Alexander Isak absent working on his fitness – made a right meal of seeing off an obdurate and resolute Burnley side who came within moments of putting a first serious dent in the season for Slot.

"The Reds boss readily admitted few could have grumbled had the promoted Clarets, backed by an occasionally raucous home crowd, held on for a goalless draw.

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"But it wasn’t just fortune that prompted Burnley substitute Hannibal Mejbri to inexplicably handle Jeremie Frimpong’s cross and provide Mohamed Salah the opportunity to net a winner five minutes into additional time.

"If Liverpool deserve credit for their persistence going forward – even if too much of their play lacked imagination in attempting to chisel a way through the Burnley rearguard – then Slot also merits praise for his ambitious substitutions."