Clarets v Liverpool Match Preview.
Clarets Mad - Clarets v Liverpool, English Premier League Match Preview.
Venue: Anfield Stadium, Anfield Road, Liverpool, L4 0TH.
Kick-off – 15.00 - 10th February 2024.
Burnley managed to salvage a home point against Fulham last weekend while the Reds suffered a 3-1 reverse away at Arsenal. Unsurprisingly Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp says he and his players will prepare properly to get the Anfield juggernaut back on track against Burnley.
For the Clarets a much-needed win would be welcome to be putting it mildly, but it’s hard to see Burnley getting much more out of this game other than to keep the score-line respectable.
Whether Vincent Kompany can mastermind one of the greatest ever EPL relegation escapes is now becoming increasingly unlikely.
Liverpool’s quest for this season’s EPL title has seen Klopp’s men already amass 51 points with a positive goal difference of (+) 30, Burnley in comparison have managed to accrue the miserly total of 13 points with a negative goal difference of (-) 23. In view of these statistics, it’s difficult to predict any other than an emphatic home win.
One’s to watch: Chelsea loanee David Fofana scored two against Fulham in his home debut and is the obvious starting partner to Lyle Foster at Anfield on Saturday. Trouble is for Burnley fans it’s hard to fathom Vincent Kompany’s team selections.
It is not helping the Clarets’ cause that ****age wing wizard Luca Koleosho remains side-lined through injury, but another terrific ****ager Wilson Odobert is proving to be a tremendous alternative.
The young Frenchman presents a serious threat to opposing defensive units and is already attracting covetous glances from a battery of EPL managers.
With Fofana, Amdouni, Foster and Odobert at Kompany’s disposal I do not think it is beyond the realms of possibility Liverpool will have to score more than two goals to win this game.
Regrettably for the Burnley defence Mohamed Salah is trying his best to get fit for the game, but in any event Dioga Jota, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Harvey Elliott all provide a clear and present alternate danger to relegation haunted Burnley.
Verdict: If games were played on paper, it would seem the Clarets should not bother boarding the team bus for the short trip down the East Lancs Road but who can ever forget Sean Dyche’s team ending Klopp’s sixty-eight game unbeaten home record at Anfield in January 2021. Miracles do happen!
Footnote: If as expected Burnley lose this game and Luton Town playing at home beat Sheffield United in a synchronized kick-off the relegation death knells will almost certainly be tolling for both the Blades and the Clarets.
I cannot see any way back from relegation for the pair of last season’s promoted teams should they both lose on Saturday.
Whatever the outcome, enjoy the game. (TEC).
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