What Arne Slot did says everything as Liverpool learn Premier League title lesson

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Arne Slot celebrates towards the fans at full time during the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor on September 14, 2025 (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Whoever said defending the Premier League title was more difficult than winning it wasn’t wrong.

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.

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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.

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.

As was demonstrated a few times last season, the Reds boss isn’t averse to gambling with his bench if there is a game to be won.

Here it was Frimpong and teenager Rio Ngumoha who were thrown on for the closing moments, Ngumoha creating a chance for the former saved by Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka before the late penalty drama.

The pressure ultimately told.

Salah’s nerveless finish for the penalty, smashing the ball down the middle, also quietened murmurs after missing from the spot during pre-season and in the Community Shield shoot-out loss to Crystal Palace.

And it will have provided a welcome boost of confidence for Salah after another game in which, partly due to the close attentions of the Burnley defence but also the ongoing attempts to build an understanding among the new-look strikeforce, the Egyptian found it hard going.

But he wasn’t the only one.

Here, though, he was regularly smothered by sheer weight of numbers although one jinking second-half run and shot dragged narrowly wide hinted at what Liverpool hope will come.

Hugo Ekitike was given precious little quality service with his best chance coming just before the break with an opening he fashioned by himself, while substitute Federico Chiesa snatched at second-half header.

The two standouts for the Reds were once again Dominik Szoboszlai, who started at right-back but became a major influence in midfield after Alexis Mac Allister failed to reappear for the second half, and Ryan Gravenberch, the Dutchman now finding his stride after a delayed start to his campaign.

The absence of Isak, while disappointing to an expectant Liverpool fanbase, was understandable given the striker’s 18-minute run-out for Sweden in their shock World Cup qualifying loss in Kosovo last Monday was his first action of any note since the end of last season.

With Isak having missed a proper pre-season during his exile at Newcastle United this summer, his integration into the Liverpool first team will be carefully managed, with Slot having confirmed the forward is likely to feature during the Champions League opener at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday,

But not even the new boy would have made much difference during a first half in which Liverpool fashioned next to no clear-cut opportunities and didn’t manage a shot on target until just before the interval.

That it came from substitute Andy Robertson said much about the Reds’ efforts and also a tortuous display from Milos Kerkez.

Kerkez’s understanding with Cody Gakpo down the left was patchy at best and his woeful attempt to win a penalty by diving deservedly earned the Hungarian a yellow card, the ire of the home crowd and a ticking off from Slot over what is regarded acceptable behaviour.

It also invited Burnley to goad referee Michael Oliver into awarding another booking for the left-back, with Slot duly replacing him for Robertson before half-time to avoid a needless red.

After a first half that smelt of post-international break, Liverpool began the second half with more purpose with Szoboszlai forcing an excellent save from Dubravka.

With Burnley barricading their goal – for good reason did they concede only 16 times in 46 Championship games last season – the visitors dominated, ending with 81% possession and 27 shots at goal although, tellingly, only four were on target.

The Reds defence, which has been exposed on several occasions already this season, was barely tested, Alisson without a single save to make all game.

Liverpool’s task was made slightly easier in the closing moments when Lesley Ugochukwu was dismissed for a second bookable offence for a foul on Wirtz having clobbered Mac Allister in the first half.

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And it ultimately required the helping hand of former Manchester United man Hannibal to give Salah the opportunity to win the game.

Slot, though, will know the penchant for late drama is not sustainable.

Watching Liverpool should come with some sort of health warning.