Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane both scored twice as Liverpool ran out 4-2 winners against Burnley.

The Reds were given an early shock as Ashley Westwood put the visitors ahead when his corner found its way into Alisson’s net after just six minutes played.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side fought back emphatically, first through Firmino, who was able to turn the ball home after Clarets goalkeeper Tom Heaton spilled a cross.

Mane then put the hosts ahead shortly before the half-hour mark with a wicket curling shot after the ball had broken to him from a foul on Mohamed Salah.

Salah was involved in the build-up for Liverpool’s third of the aftermoon as he drew a foul which allowed Firmino to slot home for his second of the day.

Although substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson pulled back a late consolation for Burnley, Mane rounded off the win in the final minute of stoppage time.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Reds better as second-best

 

Leading from the front seemed to weigh heavily on Liverpool during the three months that they overtook Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

Accusations that Jurgen Klopp’s side did not wear the moniker of champions in waiting rang hollow before the turn of 2019 but have grown in volume of late.

Yet the Reds may actually be better-placed in chasing down City if this performance is to be a reliable indicator of the weeks ahead.

Aided by Roberto Firmino’s return to the starting line-up, they were both fluid and emphatic. It was a throwback to Liverpool’s not-too-distant past.

The last time Klopp’s players appeared this swaggering was back in December, when the points margin threatened to evolve into a double-figured chasm.

Riding high brings its own problems but Liverpool may actually benefit from being the hunter rather than the hunted during their remaining eight games.

Salah happy to take the fall

 

History may have eluded Mohamed Salah but he still staked a claim of sorts

Sadio Mane was able to add his name to an historic list of players to have scored in six successive Anfield outings thanks to the Egyptian’s first-half intervention.

Without Salah drawing a challenge from James Tarkowski, his teammate’s wicked curling effort to give the hosts the lead would not have been possible.

Neither would Roberto Firmino’s second of the afternoon as Jack Taylor’s block on Liverpool’s leading scorer allowed the Brazilian to stroke home comfortably.

Salah may not be a fall guy by nature but when it leads to more goal-scoring opportunities like this, he appears comfortable in embracing the role.

Lallana finally pulls the strings again

 

Liverpool had been waiting for the return of a talismanic England midfielder. Until Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in contention, Adam Lallana will make do.

On social media, that veritable bellweather, he was pillioried after being handed a starring role against the Clarets that some supporters felt was undeserved.

It is difficult to argue with the facts; Lallana has not scored in 658 days and, hampered by injury, only mustered 28 appearances since that May 2017 goal.

Perceptions, however, are there to be challenged and he certainly did that.

Hunting down Phil Bardsley set the wheels in motion for Liverpool to take the lead he also provided a solidity in midfield that has been sorely lacking at times.

Anfield weathers the storm

 

Facing inclement conditions and a dogged opponent tends to be a recipe for disaster for Liverpool and often leads to an all-too-familiar outcome.

Klopp has gained notoriety for citing the weather as a reason for his side’s inability to win games but he would’ve had a point this time around.

Anfield encountered all four seasons in the first half, with blustery winds followed by driving rain, sleet and, for very brief periods, sunshine.

It had the potential to be a great equaliser and afford Sean Dyche’s side a point which they would otherwise have been denied under normal circumstances.

But this Liverpool side found a way of winning when the elements were against them; a fitting metaphor for the challenge which lies ahead in the title race.