The title challengers meet the relegation candidates at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon as Burnley prepare to lock horns with Liverpool in the Premier League.
The Clarets held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in midweek, while Jurgen Klopp’s side eased to a 2-0 victory at home to Leicester City.
To say that new boy Wout Weghorst got the better of Man United’s Harry Maguire in midweek would be an understatement, as the 6ft 5in Dutchman made his presence felt at Turf Moor to inspire Burnley to a well-deserved point against Ralf Rangnick’s side.
Paul Pogba’s smart finish had propelled Man United into the ascendancy, but after Weghorst had spun Maguire all ends up, Jay Rodriguez completed the job to give Burnley something to build on, albeit while also extending their winless run.
The Clarets’ COVID-19 clusters have seen them fall further and further behind their relegation rivals, but safety is still within touching distance, as Sean Dyche’s 20th-placed crop now sit four points adrift of Newcastle United in 17th having played two games fewer.
Holding Arsenal and Man United to stalemates is no mean feat as Burnley develop a resilient nature of old somewhat, but it is now 10 games without a Premier League win for Dyche’s side, whose new-look attack cannot begin firing on all cylinders soon enough.
On a more positive note, Burnley have now strung together a six-game Premier League unbeaten run on their own turf – although five of those encounters have ended with the spoils shared – and Liverpool will not be in any sort of generous mood on Sunday.
The old guard of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have repaid Jurgen Klopp’s faith in them for nearly five years now, but Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz’s performances against Leicester have seemingly shown that the Reds will be in good hands once the famed trio is broken up.
Diaz caught the eye on his full debut for the club, but it was Jota who bagged the all-important goals on the night, reacting quickly to pounce on a loose ball for his side’s first before rounding off the win from Joel Matip’s cute pass in the second period.
Only Salah (16) has bagged more Premier League goals this season than the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man’s 12, as Jota’s Liverpool keep Manchester City looking over their shoulder as they remain in second place – nine points behind the champions with a game in hand.
Klopp has the small matter of a Champions League tie with Inter Milan to prepare for next week, but Liverpool will not pass up the opportunity to record a sixth win on the bounce in all competitions this weekend, although they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last four Premier League away matches.
Liverpool eased to a 2-0 victory at Anfield over Dyche’s side back in August after a romping 3-0 success at Turf Moor in the 2020-21 season, with Dyche’s side only managing to win one of their last 10 in the league versus the rampant Reds.
Burnley Premier League form:
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Burnley form (all competitions):
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Liverpool Premier League form:
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We say: Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
Burnley are under immense pressure to make their games in hand on the sides above them count for something, but it is difficult to see the goal-shy Clarets finding their way through a staunch Reds backline.
Salah and Mane’s returns, Diaz’s dazzling debut and Jota’s red-hot streak makes for very pleasant reading for the travelling crowd, and Klopp should oversee another routine success at Turf Moor.