Liverpool left Turf Moor on St Stephen's Day with all three points after an victory away to Burnley. It wasn't straightforward, but goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota ensured that Liverpool are top of the table, despite the usual VAR shenanigans.
While it hasn't been all smooth sailing for Liverpool this season, you'd imagine Jurgen Klopp would have been pretty pleased if he was offered first place in the league on 26 December back in mid August.
However, one person who believes Liverpool's title credentials are fraudulent is former Republic of Ireland captain Kenny Cunningham.
Cunningham was in the Premier Sports punditry seat on Tuesday beside Damien Delaney, and was quite perplexed by Liverpool's performance in the second half.
He was especially critical of Waturu Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Cunningham said he feared Endo had 'cost [Liverpool] the game' by giving possession away to Bruun Larsson of Burnley in the 87th minute. Larsson's shot from distance went wide.
He wasn't impressed by defending from Alexander-Arnold earlier in the half as Burnley chased an equaliser.
When Delaney made the point that Endo had been a decent deputy to Alexis MacAllister and was helping Liverpool get through a tricky time in the season, Cunningham fired back:
It's not good enough getting you through the season. It's not enough Trent Alexander-Arnold not defending in one v one situations 30 yards from his own goal. It's these kind of situations that get exposed over the season. There's a lot of positives for that Liverpool team in terms of the journey they're on, but at the moment, in terms of the balance of that team, the quality of that team, it just isn't good enough. I think they're short.
Over the course of the season they will be exposed.
Liverpool praise for Endo
It must be said that Jurgen Klopp sees things totally differently to Cunningham and was full of praise for the Japanese midfielder after the game.
“I loved his game, I have to say. It’s a bit of a shame he finds his feet and now he goes to the Asian Cup
“That’s how it is, it’s fine. What a boy, what a player. Very important, but in January we have to play more or less without him"
Klopp also nominated Endo for man of the match while speaking to Amazon.
On Tuesday, Endo completed a brilliant feat - he became the first Liverpool player in 18 years to start five games in 13 days.
He's clearly doing something right.
Liverpool fans were not hugely impressed with Cunningham's analysis of Endo either.
Don’t show these stats to Kenny Cunningham 😉 https://t.co/xvUWBKkq1F
— Killian Whelan (@Killian_Whelan) December 26, 2023
State of Kenny Cunningham saying Trent is a liability at RB and saying Burnley had Liverpool rattled for 15mins in 2nd half. Should have been 3-0 up but 2 joke decisions. Making a fool of himself. Top of the league!!
— Kevin (@kev_tbay) December 26, 2023
Endo not good enough according to Kenny Cunningham.
— JJ Devaney (@JJDevaney) December 26, 2023
Kenny Cunningham should be told Trent has a premier league winners medal playing that position so how is that a liability over a season and then the should tell him he's a wanker
— Colm Murphy (@8colm) December 26, 2023
There are few things tougher to listen to than kenny Cunningham talking rubbish about players who are so far above his standard he can’t even think like them.
— Johnny Fallon (@jonnyfallon) December 26, 2023
Kenny Cunningham with genuinely some of the worst punditry I’ve ever seen. Uncomfortable viewing.
— Jamie Holme (@JamieHolme) December 26, 2023
Time will tell if Cunningham will be proven right. Liverpool may not be the same attacking force of past years, but in a wide open Premier League season, their street smarts might see them over the line.
