KOPS AND ROBBERS

Cool Salah nicks all three points as Slot's stars leave it late again

- BY IAN DOYLE

WATCHING Liverpool this season should come with some sort of health warning.

For the fourth time in succession, Arne Slot's champions dug themselves out of a hole in dramatic fashion to continue the 100 percent start to their Premier League title defence.

The game was deep into second-half stoppage time when Burnley substitute Hannibal Mejbri inexplicably flung an arm out to block Jeremie Frimpong's cross and give referee Michael Oliver no option.

Mohamed Salah, who had missed his previous two spotkicks, held his nerve to smash home beyond Martin Dubravka to consign Burnley to more penalty heartbreak after late defeat at Old Trafford last time out. Former Manchester United man Hannibal was inconsolable at the final whistle as Liverpool celebrated with their fans in the knowledge they had got away with one.

Certainly, defeat was harsh on Burnley, who had thrown bodies on the line throughout and had to contend with the late dismissal of Lesley Ugochukwu for two bookable offences.