Liverpool: Thiago pulling the strings in the middle of the park

Liverpool leapt back into the top four thanks to a 0-3 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor – they edged Leicester City out of fourth following their loss to Chelsea and thanks to a better goal difference for the Reds.

Rather late than never, they always say but this is the perfect way to explain Jurgen Klopp’s men’s delayed surge in performances as they climb the Premier League standings.

Burnley, one of the three teams I consider to have broken the Reds this season, couldn’t cap off some good footballing moments and were punished for it by an in-form Liverpool team.

Goals from Roberto Firimo in the first half, a thumping header by centre-back Nat Phillips in the second half, and then the final momentum of brilliance in a rare cameo for the returning Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

At the centre of it all, pulling the strings and dictating the game was Thiago Alcântara – and all that was missing from his world-class performance was a goal and/or an assist.

He had a chance to add either/or, early in the first half but the Reds were wasteful in front of goal, despite scoring three on the day.