PL PREVIEW: Liverpool v Burnley

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Build-up as the Clarets bid to stifle Reds again at Anfield

2021-01-21T11:58:55.201Z

PL PREVIEW: Liverpool v Burnley

Build-up as the Clarets bid to stifle Reds again at Anfield

2021-01-21T11:58:55.201Z

Build-up as the Clarets bid to stifle Reds again at Anfield

The Clarets head to face the champions with both teams looking to start firing again.

Burnley have lost three of their last four Premier League games by a 1-0 scoreline to slow their momentum and haven’t scored an away goal since their victory at Arsenal in mid-December.

And Liverpool’s defence of their title has taken a knock with a four-match winless league run seeing them slip to fourth place in the table – six points behind leaders Manchester United.

The Clarets – still four points clear of the bottom three – pushed United all the way before slipping to a narrow defeat at Turf Moor just over a week ago.

And even though Liverpool’s relatively barren run makes them no less dangerous opponents – according to Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope – Sean Dyche’s men will go to Anfield in a positive frame of mind after becoming the only team to stop the Reds winning at home last season in their march to the title.

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“They are going through a spell at the minute, but it doesn’t make it an easy place to go,” said Pope, who made his first top-flight start at Liverpool three-and-a-half years ago.

“Going into the game we cannot take them lightly or look at them less so than we did last season when we went to Anfield and they were already champions.

“The mindset and attitude we have to have is the same as last season. We have to be confident.

“We are going around the Premier League to different grounds in a lot better place to a couple of years ago.

“We are kind of thinking we can get points anywhere. We have that attitude, no fear, protect our goal, attack with freedom and try and get points out of the game.”

Team news

The Clarets are close to having a fully fit squad available.

Defender Charlie Taylor is back in training and could return to the squad after missing two league games with a hamstring injury.

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Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell is also back in training. Liverpool are still missing defenders Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez and forward Diogo Jota.

But central defender Joel Matip could return for the first time since the end of December.

Form guide

The Clarets – 17th in the table – have lost their last two Premier League games 1-0 following a run of just one defeat in six matches.

They are seeking a second away win but are unbeaten on their travels in four of their nine games.

Fourth-placed Liverpool haven’t won a league game since a 7-0 victory at Crystal Palace a week before Christmas.

The Reds’ run of four league games without a win – and no goals in three matches – is their worst since 2015.

Liverpool’s 0-0 draw against Manchester United last weekend was the first time they have failed to score in a home league game since October, 2018.

Opposition camp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “When you look at the goal difference that means they didn’t score a lot of goals but they don’t concede a lot as well.

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“So that just shows us how tough the game will be, but it was always like this against Burnley: a proper fight, second-ball fight, defending the channel balls, defending the intensity and all these kind of things.

“They play a specific way and I really respect that. They do it for years and Sean is always able to squeeze really good performances out of the squad, even when it’s not the biggest squad in the world.

“Of course, if they have injuries that hurts them maybe even more than other teams. But that’s the situation, they know that and they deal with it very well and we have to face it.”

Match stats

Burnley captain Ben Mee is set to make the 350th club appearance of his career. He has played 333 games for the Clarets, 15 for Leicester City and one for Manchester City.

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Goalkeeper Nick Pope is set to make his 100th start for the Clarets.

The Clarets are looking to continue their record of having beaten each of the newly-crowned Premier League champions the following season, having previously recorded wins over Manchester United, Manchester City, Leicester City and Chelsea.

The Clarets are looking for their first Premier League win at Anfield but have drawn on two of their last three visits.

Burnley’s draw at Anfield last season was the first time Liverpool hadn’t won at home in the league for 528 days.

Of their 68 unbeaten league games, the Reds have won 55 and drawn 13. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has overseen 99 wins in all competitions at Anfield.

Referee

Mike Dean

VAR

Lee Mason

Kick-off

Thursday 8pm

Broadcast

Sky Sports

Full commentary on Clarets+ with Phil Bird and former Clarets’ winger Graham Branch