Liverpool’s Clash With Burnley: Victory Isn’t A Given
Liverpool welcome Vincent Kompany’s Burnley to Anfield on Saturday, as the Reds look to get their pursuit of the Premier League title back on track. The Clarets currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, but could still prove tricky customers for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Today we’re going to be taking a deeper look at Burnley and some of the key threats to look out for ahead of the game.
Recent Form:
Kompany’s men have just two wins in their last 18 games across all competitions. One of those victories came in a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United, whilst the other was an impressive 2-0 away victory at Fulham.
Since that victory against Fulham on the 23rd of December, Burnley have lost four and drew two. That run started with a 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool on Boxing Day, where goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota secured the three points for the Reds.
Head-to-Head:
Burnley have won just one of the last 12 meetings between the two sides, coming in a 1-0 victory at Anfield behind closed doors in 2021. Since then, Liverpool have won the previous four meetings with an aggregate score of 8-0.
For Burnley’s last victory at Anfield in front of a crowd, you would have to go all the way bacl to a 1-0 victory in September 1974.
Key Threats:
David Datro Fofana
The Ivorian striker joined the Clarets on loan from Chelsea in the January transfer window and has had a huge impact since his arrival. Despite playing just 57 minutes since his arrival, Fofana has already registered two goals and one assist.
That puts him as Burnley’s joint-third top scorer in the Premier League, with only Wilson Odobert, Josh Brownhill, Lyle Foster and Zeki Amdouni. His two late goals dramatically salvaged a point for his new club in the 2-2 draw against Fulham last time out.
Wilson Odobert
The 19-year-old winger has caught the eye of many since his arrival at Burnley in the summer. Odobert has registered four goals and two assists across all competitions this season, but his overall play has been equally as impressive.
The teenager has a clear ability to put his opposition defender on the back foot and is very direct in his style of play. Odobert will likely look to exploit the space left behind by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s attacking role in Klopp’s system and could be Kompany’s best chance of securing a positive result.
Josh Brownhill
The 28-year-old box-to-box midfielder has naled himself down as an integral part of Kompany’s plans at Burnley. Brownhill has plenty of tenacity in his defensive efforts, whilst also having a solid level of footballing intelligence.
Perhaps most notably, Brownhill has a clear ability to strike a ball from a distance and has so far managed three goals and one assist for the Clarets this season. Alisson will need to be on his toes, as a long-range effort is never too far away for Brownhill.
