Liverpool held onto the Premier League’s top spot with a win over Burnley.

Diogo Jota opened the scoring after 30 minutes’ play when he met Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deep corner to the far post with a downward header.

But Dara O’Shea pulled the visitors level on the stroke of half-time by powering home an identical effort past Caoimhin Kelleher in front of The Kop.

The Reds restored their lead early into the second half courtesy of Luis Diaz’s diving close-range header to meet a low cross from substitute Harvey Elliott.

Darwin Nunez added a third in the final 15 minutes as Elliott produced another assist, teeing up the Uruguayan to head beyond James Trafford.

Jurgen Klopp’s side restored their two-point cushion at the league summit after Manchester City’s own home victory over Everton earlier on Saturday.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Patchwork Reds get the job done

On and off the pitch, the past week has been bruising for Liverpool.

Already contending with a mounting injury list and suspension, a bout of illness was added to the mix for Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead of Burnley’s visit.

Both Alisson and Joe Gomez were notable absentees from the matchday squad as the pair succumbed to the flu sweeping the Reds’ senior squad.

Things fared little better as Trent Alexander-Arnold was withdrawn with a recurrence of his knee injury after the visitors snatched a half-time leveller.

Curtis Jones’ deployment at right-back in his place following the interval revealed how threadbare Liverpool’s resources are at the present moment.

Yet they managed to weather the storm to consolidate their position at the Premier League’s summit and keep Manchester City at arm’s length.

‘Poetry in motion’ was The Kop’s jubilant chant midway through the second half but this proved to be anything other than free-flowing from their team.

It was a slog but one that Klopp’s patched-up title chasers got the job done.

Elliott delivers reminder of his quality

Alexander-Arnold’s half-time withdrawal prompted a recalibration from Klopp.

Rather than choosing a relative like-for-like in the form of Kostas Tsimikas, the Liverpool manager turned to a wildcard option among his substitutes’ bench.

With Jones slotting into the full-back role, Harvey Elliott was handed a runout in midfield in efforts to shift the balance of power back in the hosts’ favour.

The 20-year-old’s performances have largely flown under the radar this term but it took just seven minutes to receive a timely reminder of his qualities.

An inviting cross from the right-hand side was perfectly weighted for Luis Diaz to swoop in The Kop’s penalty area and head Liverpool back into the lead.

Elliott continued to provide dangerous deliveries and reaped the reward of a second assist when he fired another that saw Darwin Nunez to hit the target.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s injury, coupled with Alexander-Arnold’s setback, could see the playmaker afforded an extended run in the side in the coming weeks.

The double goal involvement should go some way in strengthening his case.

Salah stand-ins still filling the void

Anfield has been deprived the sight of Mohamed Salah at the peak of his powers since signing off for the Africa Cup of Nations on New Year’s Day.

The mercurial Egyptian’s return to the red shirt is still some way off after sustaining a hamstring injury while representing his country in Ivory Coast.

Klopp, however, need not worry about Liverpool’s Salah shortfall when his existing forward line remain in highly effervescent form during his absence.

Between them, Nunez, Diaz and Diogo Jota have produced a combined 22 goals in the eight games since their attacking cohort took scheduled leave.

Since returning to the fold in Boxing Day’s corresponding fixture at Turf Moor, Jota has racked up nine goal involvements including a sixth goal on Saturday.

Nunez, too, is enjoying a purple patch after extending his streak against the Clarets to four goals and assists apiece since the turn of the calendar year.

Liverpool cannot risk being without Salah’s skill and potency for long, but his supporting cast have shown themselves as more than capable stand-ins.