Goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane ensured Liverpool made it two Premier League wins from two with victory over Burnley at a packed Anfield.
In what was a promising all-round performance by Liverpool, captain Jordan Henderson returned to the starting XI after missing the opening-day win over Norwich, with teenager Harvey Elliott also impressing on his first Premier League start.
Jota opened the scoring in the 18th minute, heading past Nick Pope from Konstantinos Tsimikas’ cross for his second goal in as many games.
Mohamed Salah had the ball in the back of the net eight minutes later, but it was ruled out by the video assistant referee as the Egyptian was offside in the build-up.
Sean Dyche’s side were looking for back-to-back league wins at Anfield for the first time since 1897 after ending Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten home run last season.
But Burnley’s brave defence were finally beaten again as Jurgen Klopp’s side doubled their lead through a superb second-half Mane strike.
Liverpool win on emotional Anfield return
Emotions were high before the match as Liverpool prepared to play in front of a full house at Anfield for the first time since 11 March 2020.
A full 528 days after the club last welcomed a capacity crowd, for their Champions League match with Atletico Madrid, fans belted out a rousing rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, which was followed by touching tributes prior to kick-off.
There was a minute’s applause as Anfield paid respects to lifelong supporter Andrew Devine, the 97th victim of the Hillsborough tragedy.
Fans on the Kop held up a mosaic with the number 97, as Henderson laid a wreath in front of the famous stand to remember the 55-year-old, who died in July, 32 years after suffering life-changing injuries in the 1989 disaster.
When the match got under way, Burnley had the first real chance with Dwight McNeil hitting the post inside four minutes, but it was Jota who sent the returning Liverpool supporters into raptures with his first-half header.
The Portuguese nipped between the Clarets’ centre back pairing of Ben Mee and James Tarkowski to nod past Pope for his first league goal at Anfield since November 2020.
Burnley thought they equalised soon after half-time, but Ashley Barnes’ effort was ruled out for offside.
Both managers were frustrated with decisions from referee Mike Dean, with 18 fouls conceded throughout the match and no yellow cards issued.
Liverpool took their time to settle into the second half, but soon found their rhythm and managed 17 shots after the break, seven of which were on target.
And it was a superb bit of play, started by Virgil van Dijk and finished by Mane, which sealed the three points.
Van Dijk’s long ball out wide found Elliott, who chested it down before finding Trent Alexander-Arnold. The right-back clipped a first-time pass into the box for Mane to fire past Pope as he opened his tally for the new season with his 50th goal for the Reds.
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
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