Mohamed Salah’s Last-Minute Penalty Seals Liverpool Win at Burnley
Salah delivers in stoppage time as Liverpool edge Burnley and extend their perfect start to the Premier League season.
Burnley, September 14 EST: Turf Moor was ready to erupt in relief. Ninety-four minutes had come and gone, Burnley had stared down Liverpool’s vaunted attack, and the home crowd could practically taste the point. Then came the gut punch. A flick, a handball, a whistle. Mohamed Salah, ice-cold in the chaos, stepped up and ripped history into the net. One swing of his left boot, one more record shattered, and Liverpool stole it 1-0 at the death.
The Agony and the Ecstasy
Football does not script endings much crueler for one side or sweeter for the other. Burnley fought like a cornered dog, lunging into tackles, closing down space, and surviving wave after wave of red shirts. Liverpool owned the ball, sure, but what did they do with it? For 93 minutes, not much. Crosses floated, shots dribbled, and ideas evaporated. Turf Moor smelled blood.
And then, of course, Salah. He has done it so many times you could almost predict it the pressure, the glare, the hush before the strike. No nerves, no hesitation. Just ruthless clarity. Ball one way, keeper the other, and the scoreboard breaking Burnley hearts.
Salah’s Night, Salah’s Record
It wasn’t just a match-winner. This was a record etched in Premier League stone. That penalty lifted Salah to 188 league goals, sliding past Andrew Cole into the top four all-time. Only Shearer, Kane, and Rooney now stand above him. Think about that a player Liverpool bought in 2017, once doubted as “Chelsea’s castoff,” is now rewriting the history books in front of us.
And as if that wasn’t enough, he claimed Liverpool’s crown for most league penalties scored, overtaking Billy Liddell, a name synonymous with Anfield folklore. A record inside a record. The kind of stat line that doesn’t just belong in a match report, it belongs in a club’s mythology.
A Win That Felt Like a Warning
But let’s be honest if you’re a Liverpool fan, you’re not exactly skipping down the street after this one. The result? Perfect. The performance? Anything but. Arne Slot’s side looked oddly toothless, swarming Burnley’s half without ever sinking their teeth in. Two shots on target from all that possession? That’s not the football this club promises.
You could see the frustration on the touchline. The passes were neat, the patterns were tidy, but where was the killer instinct? Where was the menace? Too often, Burnley’s back line looked comfortable, and that will gnaw at Slot long after the points are tallied.
The Isak Question Grows Louder
And then there’s Alexander Isak. Liverpool didn’t just buy him they broke the bank, splashing £125 million for the Swede. Yet here we are, mid-September, and he’s not even in the squad. Fitness issues, they say. Match readiness, they say. Fine. But Liverpool didn’t spend that kind of money for a “maybe later.” The attack looks blunted, and the most expensive forward in club history is watching from somewhere else.
Every misfired cross, every wasted move into the box, the absence of Isak echoed louder. Because make no mistake Salah cannot carry this season alone, no matter how many records he topples.
Burnley’s Broken Resistance
As for Burnley, what more can they do? Vincent Kompany had them organized, disciplined, ready to scrap for every yard. They believed, truly believed, they had earned something tonight. Then football’s cruelest truth struck one slip, one decision, and all that sweat goes unrewarded.
The home fans roared in fury at the referee, but the replay was merciless; the handball was clear. Kompany could only watch as his men slumped to the turf, gutted. No points, no justice, just another lesson in how unforgiving this league can be.
What This Tells Us
Liverpool marches on, unbeaten, unbowed, but not unflawed. The table will show three more points, Salah will grab the headlines, and the records will shine. But in the cold light of day, questions remain. Can Slot turn possession into punishment? Can Isak become the striker they paid for?
For now, Salah’s legacy keeps papering over the cracks. But if Liverpool want this season to be about more than individual brilliance, they’ll need more than late drama at places like Turf Moor.
Because one day soon, even Salah won’t be enough.
New Jersey Times Is Your Source: The Latest In Politics, Entertainment, Business, Breaking News, And Other News. Please Follow Us On Facebook, Instagram, And Twitter To Receive Instantaneous Updates. Also Do Checkout Our Telegram Channel @Njtdotcom For Latest Updates.
A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.
