SAM Vokes insists scoring the first goal will be crucial for Burnley this season after he rocked Liverpool with a second-minute stunner.

The Clarets striker continued his habit of beating Belgium goalkeepers as he followed up a header past Thibaut Courtois for Wales in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals with a 20-yard thunderbolt past Simon Mignolet at Turf Moor.

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Vokes claims that was crucial to the Burnley gameplan as they gave a masterclass of containment, discipline and hard work that Jurgen Klopp’s stars could find no answer to.

And he says if they had struck early against Swansea the weekend before, they could now be sitting pretty with two wins from two in the top flight.

“I think it was a similar sort of game to last week,” he said. “If we’d have got the early goal against Swansea it might have been a different story.

“But we got that 2-0 advantage in the first half against Liverpool and you see how resolute the boys were and how they stuck at it in the second half to get that result.

“There was a lot of possession in our half and you see the shape we had and how well we kept it.

“It was about digging in, and it was tough, with myself and Andre (Gray) obviously dropping in deeper.

“You saw the class Liverpool had, so it was good to come away with three points in the end.

“It’s part of our game, high pressing, and getting at them early on, so for us to do that against a strong Liverpool side was good.”

Vokes’ goal was teed up by his strike partner Gray, who picked up a loose pass from Reds full-back Nathaniel Clyne and fed his teammate to turn and fire home.

Gray then made it 2-0 with a composed finished after a surging run from new signing Steven Defour, Vokes admitted it was nice to break his Premier League duck after injury wrecked his chances the last time Burnley were in the top flight two years ago.

And the fact that Gray followed suit was ‘great’, according to the front man.

“It’s massive,” said Vokes. “I’ve had a couple of cracks at it but I haven’t managed to get that first goal, so that was one of my main goals of the season and now I can try to kick on.

“I don’t normally hang around outside the box, so it was nice to get a shot off, but it was a great moment and one I’ll look back on with fond memories I’m sure.”

He added: “As strikers you want to be on the scoresheet as much as you can, but to get that one ticked off for us both was great.

“Andre’s goal was a typical goal for him.

“Obviously Steven (Defour) did very well, but he caused havoc for the defence and managed to slot it home with a great finish.

“His place lets us play on the break, especially in games like this because we were very camped in at times and working hard as a defensive unit.

“When we get up the pitch, we know he can keep it and stretch it for us.

“It’s always nice to score early in the season to get that off your back.

“Not just that, getting the three points as well because it took us a while the last time we were in the Premier League to get that win.

“It was a special moment. It’s nice to do it at home against a strong side.”