Jurgen Klopp‘s team, Liverpool, took an early lead against Nunez at Turf Moor. Despite missing several opportunities, they managed to hold on to their lead.
The goal marked Nunez’s eighth of the season, but it had been 12 games since he last scored against Bournemouth in the League Cup on November 1. Diogo Jota, who had been absent due to injury for a month, sealed the victory with a late goal.
As a result, Liverpool now sits two points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, although Arsenal has a game in hand.
But for the 3-2 loss of Aston Villa to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, they will be tied with Liverpool in points but behind them on goal difference.
Arsenal has the opportunity to reclaim the top position by winning against West Ham at home on Thursday.
Liverpool’s recent win against Manchester United and Arsenal before Christmas was crucial for their aspirations of winning the title.
Although they are not playing their best football, the Reds are compensating with determination and resilience as they strive for their first title since 2020.
Burnley are five points from safety, but it could have been different if Zeki Amdouni had sprinted through the centre for a wayward effort that whistled wide in the first seconds.
Liverpool took advantage of their escape in the sixth minute of their last game of 2023, as Cody Gakpo teed up Nunez, who curled a superb goal into the far corner from 20 yards.
When Gakpo blasted over from an excellent position inside the area, he should have doubled Liverpool’s lead.
With a difficult long-range shot, Burnley’s Josh Brownhill forced Alisson Becker into a fantastic save.
But Liverpool were always in control, and Harvey Elliott’s effort was superbly stopped by Trafford before Gakpo’s powerful finish was ruled off for Nunez’s foul on Charlie Taylor in the build-up.
Liverpool went near again as they sought a second goal, with Mohamed Salah hitting the crossbar with a ferocious shot from Joe Gomez’s ball.
Trafford pushed Wataru Endo’s low drive from the edge of the area away at full stretch.
Trafford was preserving Burnley from being destroyed as he made another fantastic stop to keep Salah’s curler out.
Elliott believed he had scored in the 55th minute with a cushioned finish from Ryan Gravenberch’s cross, but the goal was called out due to Salah being offside.
Burnley almost equalised against the flow of play when Dara O’Shea’s flick glanced off Nunez and floated just over.
Liverpool suddenly appeared vulnerable. When Johann Gudmundsson headed Wilson Odobert’s cross over from close range, he lost a wonderful opportunity.
Burnley’s final shot came following Endo’s error, when Jacob Bruun Larsen drilled inches wide.
Jota delivered the knockout punch in the 90th minute, blasting home from an acute angle inside the area for his 50th Liverpool goal.
