The Details
Venue – Turf Moor, Burnley
Referee – Stuart Attwell
Date & Time – Wednesday, December 5th @ 19:45
Current Odds – Burnley 12/1, Draw 5/1, Liverpool 2/7
Form
Burnley Form
Burnley are currently the team displaying the worst form in the Premier League. In the last five games, Burnley have conceded 12 goals and only scored three of their own.
They have lost five of their last six games and are without a win since their 2-1 victory at Cardiff City at the end of September.
Liverpool Form
Lately, it’s very hard to know what kind of performance Liverpool are going to put on but they have somehow kept the Premier League title race alive, despite not brushing any teams aside like they did last season.
Three away defeats in the Champions League group have been the most disappointing results so far. Thankfully, Jurgen Klopp’s team have kept racking up the wins, domestically.
On Sunday, it was the unlikely hero, Divock Origi, who bagged the bragging rights for the red half of Merseyside after Liverpool and Everton had played out a somewhat entertaining derby at Anfield.
Team News
Burnley Team News
Sean Dyche is still without Nick Pope, Jonathan Walters and Stephen Ward while Robbie Brady is not expected to be fit after his recent ankle injury.
Burnley will most likely line out in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Chris Wood leading the line at the lone striker.
Liverpool Team News
Jordan Henderson is available for selection again after being suspended for last weekend’s Merseyside derby at Anfield due to his red card in the win at Watford.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is continuing his recovery and hopes to get some game-time before the end of the season.
Dominic Solanke (groin strain) and Adam Lallana are also expected to miss out.
Sadio Mané suffered a cut to his foot in the win over Everton while Andy Robertson got a dead leg in the same game. Both players will face late fitness tests ahead of the Burnley game.
Klopp will probably revert to a 4-3-3 shape for this game and Dejan Lovren could get a starting place to counteract the physical threat Burnley will pose.
Predicted XIs
Burnley XI (4-4-1-1) – Hart; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee(c), Taylor; Lennon, Defour, Cork, Gudmundsson; Hendrick; Wood
Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson(c), Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mané
When they last met
Liverpool beat Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on New Year’s Day of 2018. Sadio Mané opened the scoring for the away side after an hour of play but Johann Gudmundsson equalised for The Clarets with just three minutes remaining. However, in the 94th minute, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain floated a high free-kick into the Burnley area. Dejan Lovren won his header and knocked the ball to the far post where our cult hero, Ragnar Klavan, put it over the line for a dramatic winner.
Prediction
Burnley 0 – 2 Liverpool
Burnley are really struggling this season and with just 9 points from their opening 14 league games, they are a far cry from the defensively-solid team that Dyche led to a 7th-place finish last season.
The pressure will be on Klopp’s men again, especially if Manchester City have already taken all three points from their trip to Watford on Tuesday night. Liverpool should have far too much for this Burnley team, though. If they can cope with the physical side of Burnley’s game then Liverpool will make the gulf in class count over the 90 minutes.
** Please note – “xGA” in the Form Stats tables symbolises “expected goals against” **
**All xG stats courtesy of Understat.com and FiveThirtyEight.com
If Mr. Klopp changes binho for Henderson. I won’t be stunned he’s done so much bs in his midfield selection. Add to that that Naby should start Bobby should rest aND Shaq although doing well is not a midfielder
I agree, Red Panther. The above team is my prediction for what I think Klopp will go with. It’s not the one I’d like to see, though!
Mr. Klopp is so predictable it’s shameful. Smfh!!!