THE DETAILS
Venue – Anfield, Liverpool
Referee – David Coote
Date & Time – Saturday, July 11th @ 15:00
Current Odds – Liverpool 1/4, Draw 19/4, Burnley 10/1
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Liverpool are two wins from the perfect home record for a season. They’ve won 17 from 17, with just Burnley and Chelsea left to visit Merseyside. Also, The Reds are 9 points away from breaking the 100-point record for a season. You saw how Liverpool attacked at Brighton on Wednesday night. There’s no way this team feels there’s nothing left to play for. Jürgen Klopp’s Mighty Record-breaking Reds are still going strong and here’s hoping they steamroll their way through to the end of the campaign.
FORM
Liverpool Form
Jürgen Klopp’s Reds have won three, drew one and lost one since June. More importantly, they tied up the club’s first league title success in 30 years during that period.
Last week, Manchester City took Liverpool apart, winning 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium with The Reds still in ‘celebration mode’. However, since then, Klopp’s men have beaten Aston Villa (2-0) and Brighton (3-1) to stay on track to beat City’s 100-points record haul for a Premier League season. With four games left, Liverpool know that three more wins will bring them to 101 points.
Burnley Form
Burnley are unbeaten in their last four games, winning three of those fixtures. Their last defeat was at Manchester City (5-0) in the team’s first game back in action in June.
Since then, Sean Dyche’s side has beaten Watford, Crystal Palace and West Ham all by the same scoreline, 1-0. They also drew 1-1 at home to Sheffield United. That’s just one goal Burnley have conceded in four games since the loss at City.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool will definitely be without Joël Matip who is out for the rest of the season. Jordan Henderson and Dejan Lovren are also unlikely to feature for The Reds on Saturday. Henderson suffered a knee injury in the win at Brighton on Wednesday night. Here’s hoping it doesn’t keep the captain out for too long.
Neco Williams started at left-back against Brighton but Andy Robertson should be back in the starting eleven against Burnley. I think Klopp will go with a full-strength back four, therefore, not resting Trent Alexander-Arnold.
With Henderson out injured, Gini Wijnaldum should come into the starting lineup while Naby Keïta will get the chance to continue his fine form.
Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané is likely to be the front three after Mané only came on after 60 minutes on Wednesday. Salah is due a rest but Klopp and co do seem determined to give him the best opportunity at getting his third consecutive Golden Boot award. After two goals and an assist at Brighton, it’s very hard to see The Egyptian King being on the bench against Burnley.
Burnley Team News
Sean Dyche has quite a few injury concerns at Burnley right now. He’s missing Matthew Lowton, Ben Gibson, Jack Cork, Ben Mee and Ashley Barnes for Saturday’s fixture. That’s at least four players who would normally start for Dyche.
Burnley are likely to stick with their 4-4-2 formation at Anfield.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keïta; Salah, Firmino, Mané
Burnley XI (4-4-2) – Pope; Bardsley, Long, Tarkowski, Taylor; Pieters, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Rodriguez, Wood
WHEN THEY LAST MET
Liverpool won 3-0 when the sides met at Turf Moor back in August. An own goal from Chris Wood gave The Reds the lead in the first half. Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino added Liverpool’s other two goals on the day.
The last encounter at Anfield was a 4-2 win for Liverpool. Ashley Westwood gave Burnley an early lead in front of The Kop after a clear foul on Alisson. However, The Reds fought back to win thanks to two goals each from Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané. Jóhann Guðmundsson scored Burnley’s second goal late on but it was a mere consolation strike.
PREDICTION
LIVERPOOL 2 – 0 BURNLEY
Liverpool have bounced back well from the 4-0 defeat at Manchester City. Jürgen Klopp’s Mighty Reds should have more than enough to see off Burnley on Saturday. I expect Mohamed Salah to have another great game after his brilliant display at Brighton on Wednesday.
