Never leave a Liverpool match early. Those that have done so might think the champions are still awaiting their first victory of the season.
They took 88 minutes to secure the points against Bournemouth on the opening day, struck a winner in the 100th against Newcastle United and beat Arsenal with an 83rd-minute free-kick two weeks ago.
On Sunday, Burnley’s resistance was ended with a 95th-minute Mohamed Salah penalty, Liverpool once again demonstrating they have the aura of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United when pursuing last-gasp victories. Maybe we should start talking about “Arne Time”.
Arne Slot’s blood pressure is suffering more than his side’s title defence. His team being specialists in delayed gratification can be interpreted as worrying or reassuring – underlining their mentality as they keep finding a way, while continuing to demonstrate a capacity to make life harder than it needs to be.
“It’s a bit of both,” acknowledged the Liverpool manager, who is at the start of his process of building a team that turns its dominance of the ball into more emphatic scorelines. Ominously, they are still churning out the victories in the knowledge the striker pursued so vigorously to put the cherry on the icing will be on parade soon enough.
Alexander Isak’s absence loomed large during the 94 minutes when Liverpool toiled at Turf Moor. The Swede stayed on Merseyside, with Slot saying he was nowhere near the necessary fitness level.
“We got him from Newcastle in a state where his pre-season starts now,” explained Slot.
“He needs a base. Alex is far from ready for a schedule of three games in a week. He could play 45 [against Atlético Madrid] on Wednesday, but if he does, do not expect him to play 45 next Saturday.”
More questions might have been asked about the wisdom of being so cautious had Liverpool left with a frustrating point. Instead, experienced judges recognised the habitual quality of pushing the opponent until they submit.
For it to happen once could be considered good fortune, and twice in succession coincidental. For Liverpool to have won all four of their Premier League games in such a manner underlines their relentlessness and hunger to keep their crown.
Like all great champions – older Liverpool fans will reminisce about their teams of the 70s and 80s possessing the same capacity to score just as the referee was checking his watch for the last time – the closer an opponent gets to a positive result, the greater their sense of anxiety and vulnerability to making a critical error.
Scott Parker and his Burnley side earned sympathy for the manner of their loss. It always feels crueller in such circumstances, even if there was no controversy about the match-defining decision to award a penalty against Hannibal Mejbri.
This proved to be a case of ‘HanniBall’ with Burnley 30 seconds from a courageous point, as the rearguard action forced the visitors into a final desperate pursuit of a winner.
Jeremie Frimpong’s cross was inexplicably handled, and it was left to Salah to prove his recent penalty aberrations in pre-season were behind him. He duly obliged, holding his nerve to smash the ball past Martin Dubravka and maintain Slot’s 100 per cent record.
Parker wanted to challenge the decision, but the best he could come up with a dig at the rules.
“We may have to train defenders to defend with arms behind their back,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking the way the game ends for us – two weeks in a row a penalty decides the game.
“I am pleased and proud. We came into the game with a plan against an unbelievable team. For the majority of the game we did it very well. We were organised and diligent and I am gutted for them.”
A draw would have been especially symbolic for Parker. He took a 9-0 hammering the last time he coached a side against Liverpool, during his Bournemouth tenure in 2022. There was no danger of a repeat as the champions struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, an increase in tempo in the second half matched by the excellence of Burnley’s organisation.
Liverpool were assisted by a red card for Lesley Ugochukwu, who had early been booked for a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister which forced the midfielder off at half-time.
Ugochukwu’s trip on Florian Wirtz earned a second yellow. There were no complaints from Parker.
Slot’s response was a cavalry charge having made a ruthless substitution as early as the 38th minute.
The sirens were blurring every time his left back, Milos Kerkez, was attacked in the first half, prompting the Dutchman to get out his hook and replace the young left-back with Andy Robertson.
There were a few words of consolation as the defender made his exit. No doubt he would also point out it was the recent signing’s own fault. Having been cautioned for a stupid dive when strikers were waiting for a cross following one of Liverpool’s more precise first-half passing moves, the Hungarian was unnecessarily walking a tightrope.
“I told him it was not smart,” Slot said of the play-acting.
His late changes finally worked with Frimpong one of the seven attackers on the pitch creating the winning opportunity.
The 100 per cent record remains intact, and it feels like there is much more to come.
The imminent debut of the Premier League’s most expensive finisher might guarantee Liverpool can stop relying on such dramatic finishes.