BURNLEY could not make first-half pressure count as they were beaten at home by Liverpool on Sam Vokes’ return to first-team action.

The Clarets dominated the opening period at Turf Moor but Danny Ings was denied by the post and an improved second-half performance from Liverpool saw Raheem Sterling net the winner just after the hour mark.

Burnley handed a comeback appearance to Vokes as an 80th-minute substitute, but Mario Balotelli was an unused sub for Liverpool.

Burnley fans held a minute’s applause in the fifth minute of the game for Clarke Carlisle, who was badly injured when he was hit by a lorry earlier this week and wore the number five shirt during his time as a Clarets player.

Sean Dyche’s men completely dominated the first half and were denied by the post when Ings saw his low 20-yard effort come back off the woodwork with goalkeeper Brad Jones nowhere near it.

Jones had seemingly picked up an injury and was soon replaced, meaning a comeback for Simon Mignolet, who was recently dropped as Liverpool’s first-choice keeper.

Ashley Barnes headed over Dean Marney’s cross as Burnley continued to have the better of the game, although Tom Heaton did have to save from Adam Lallana on the counter attack.

The Clarets kept pushing forward though and Lucas Leiva had to deflected Scott Arfield’s volley just around the post before George Boyd hammered a 20-yard effort inches over the bar. Liverpool improved after the interval though, replacing Kolo Toure with Emre Can, and after stabilising the match they were ahead in the 62nd minute.

Philippe Coutinho flicked the ball over the top to send Sterling racing clear and the England international rounded Heaton before finding the net despite the attempts of Michael Keane and Jason Shackell to get back on the line.

Keane soon headed just wide for Burnley after Mignolet had conceded a corner in bizarre fashion but Liverpool were on top by now and Shackell had to deflect Coutinho’s shot wide before substitute Rickie Lambert had a goal ruled out for offside.

Burnley introduced Vokes for Barnes in the final 10 minutes but could not create the opening they needed to rescue a point.

Burnley: Tom Heaton, Kieran Trippier, Michael Keane, Jason Shackell, Ben Mee (Lukas Jutkiewicz 90); George Boyd, Dean Marney, David Jones (Ross Wallace 83), Scott Arfield; Ashley Barnes (Sam Vokes 80), Danny Ings. Subs not used: Matt Gilks, Kevin Long, Steven Reid, Michael Kightly.

Liverpool: Brad Jones (Simon Mignolet 16): Kolo Toure (Emre Can 46), Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho; Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Lucas Leiva, Lazar Markovic; Philippe Coutinho (Rickie Lambert 72), Adam Lallana; Raheem Sterling. Subs not used: Alberto Moreno, Javier Manquillo, Sheyi Ojo, Mario Balotelli. Referee: Anthony Taylor.