![\"Ian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Ian-Doyle.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLiverpool are still making a habit of winning late in games but the time has come for an improvement in performances<\/p>\n
17:44, 15 Sep 2025Updated 23:10, 15 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
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Ian Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. He previously also covered Everton for 18 years and followed England, reporting on the European Championships and World Cup final. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.<\/p>\n
![\"Mohamed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GettyImages-2234852023.jpg\")
Mohamed Salah celebrates with his Liverpool team-mates after scoring the winner during the Premier League match at Burnley on September 14 2025(Image: MB Media\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The mentality monsters, as Jurgen Klopp once famously dubbed his old team. Now Arne Slot’s Liverpool are acquiring some of the traits that made his predecessor’s charges such fearsome opponents until the very last kick.<\/p>\n
The late, late show continued at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon when Mohamed Salah’s<\/a> nerveless penalty kick five minutes into injury time earned a 1-0 victory at promoted Burnley.<\/p>\n In maintaining Liverpool’s<\/a> 100% start to their title defence, it was the fourth successive game in which they had scored a winner beyond the 80th minute – the first time in Premier League a team had achieved such a feat.<\/p>\n Exciting? Without doubt. But as a relieved Reds celebrated at the weekend, there is an acceptance they must start making life easier for themselves as a new-look team continues to gel.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk sidesteps Alexander Isak conversation and sends Liverpool message – ‘not now’<\/a>READ MORE: Alexis Mac Allister sparks Burnley fume as Michael Oliver proven right over Liverpool decision<\/a><\/p>\n Such was Liverpool’s level of control in exerting dominance over the Premier League last season, they were rarely required to dig deep in the closing stages to secure victory.<\/p>\n Indeed, they already have earned more late Premier League victories this term than the whole of the previous campaign. Their first such winner on the way to the title came in November through Salah’s 83rd-minute penalty at Southampton, which was followed by Darwin Nunez’s famous injury-time brace at Brentford and Virgil van Dijk’s 89th-minute effort to beat West Ham United at home in April.<\/p>\n There were late levellers at Arsenal and at home to Fulham and, on the final weekend, Crystal Palace. But otherwise Liverpool largely avoided the need for hectic interventions in the closing stages.<\/p>\n Of course, late winners are nothing new to Liverpool, with Salah’s strike ensuring the 47th time the Reds had won a Premier League by scoring in the 90th minute or later, the most in the competition’s history.<\/p>\n It also moved Slot’s side three points clear at the top of the embryonic table and was only the sixth time since Liverpool returned to the top flight in 1962 that they have won their opening four league games.<\/p>\n On only two of the previous five occasions did they go on to win the championship, one of which was the most recent previous such instance under Klopp in 2019\/20.<\/p>\n Few, though, would contend Liverpool are anywhere near their best, a point with which vice-captain Andy Robertson<\/a> readily agrees.<\/p>\n “It’s been a good start but we need to get better,” he said. “To be there or thereabouts at the end of the season you have to have wins like this but we obviously have to improve and we are getting better and working hard on the training pitch.<\/p>\n “You need to start winning matches more comfortably: Newcastle, Arsenal was won by a moment of pure brilliance, Bournemouth was late and Burnley was late also. We do need to improve but it is pleasing we have got four wins when we are not at our peak.<\/p>\n “You felt it was coming and it’s a big three points after the international break.”<\/p>\n Robertson added: \u201cI thought Burnley were really good defensively and they made it really difficult for us to break break them down. It was up to us to stay patient and ultimately not make mistakes at the other end and we did that well and limited them to very few chances.<\/p>\n “At the end you just hope they get a bit tired and a bit lazy and that’s what happened, and when you get a penalty you always back Mo to put it away.”<\/p>\n WELCOME to the second edition of Blood Red<\/a> \u2013 your new monthly publication from the ECHO covering everything you need to know about what\u2019s happening at Liverpool FC.<\/p>\n This month, our focus is on Europe as Liverpool’s Champions League campaign kicks off with the Reds looking to bring home European Cup number 7. As well as a pull-out fixtures guide to the group phase, we profile every other club in the competition.<\/p>\n Our writers cover Arne Slot\u2019s side all season long, home, away and abroad, seven days a week, and this special second edition<\/a> of Blood Red is full of their in-depth features, analysis and comment.<\/p>\n There’s also an interview with Voice of Anfield George Sephton who looks back at his time at the club, we review the big tactical talking points of the season’s opening games, and we preview the next month of action as the Champions combine their bid to defend their Premier League crown with the start of their mission for Champions League glory.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757924051_163_0_Liverpool-Blood-Red-2jpeg.jpg\")
A new monthly print edition for all LFC fans, September edition on sale now<\/p>\n