Liverpool will welcome Burnley for a lunchtime kick-off at Anfield, and will hope to continue their positive start to the new Premier League campaign.
The Reds registered a comprehensive 3-0 victory over newcomers Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday, with goals from Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah doing the job.
A clean sheet and three points away from home will give Jürgen Klopp’s side a big boost heading into the season’s first game at Anfield as they look to challenge for the title.
Burnley, on the other hand, tasted an opening-day home defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion. They were also beaten 3-1 by Manchester United in a behind-closed-doors practice game at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
However, Sean Dyche’s side will be buoyant travelling to Anfield on Saturday having ended Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten home run last season.
Liverpool vs Burnley – Team News
Liverpool
Liverpool have received a triple injury boost ahead of their game against the Clarets, as Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones are all fit to return to the squad. Jones has recovered from a concussion he suffered against Osasuna in the pre-season friendly, while Henderson and Thiago came through a behind-closed-doors friendly unscathed.
Andrew Robertson has already returned to training following a recent ankle injury suffered during a pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao.
Alisson Becker started in goal against Norwich City and will look to make it two clean sheets on a trot at the weekend. The back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, and Kostas Tsimikas, that started the opening game of the season, are expected to retain their places in Klopp’s starting XI.
The trio of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started in the Reds’ engine room at Norwich last weekend, but Klopp could ring a couple of changes on Saturday. If Jordan Henderson is deemed fully fit to start, he could replace Oxlade-Chamberlain while Milner might make way for Fabinho.
Up front, Klopp is likely to go with the trio of Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah against Sean Dyche’s side.
Burnley
Dale Stephens and Kevin Long missed the season opener against Brighton with fitness issues and remain doubtful for this weekend too. Other than the duo, Sean Dyche has a fit squad at his disposal for the trip to Liverpool.
Nick Pope played his first competitive last weekend against Brighton since undergoing knee surgery in May. He’ll be in Burnley’s goal on Saturday, with the back four of Matthew Lowton, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Charlie Taylor ahead of him.
Ashley Westwood and Jack Cork are hardworking, tough-tackling midfielders that will retain their places in Dyche’s starting XI. Against a top opponent in Liverpool, Dyche could add some more bite to his midfield by starting Josh Brownhill ahead of Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Dwight McNeil is likely to start on the left wing for the Clarets.
Up front, Ashley Barnes, who scored the winner for Burnley at Anfield last season, should come in for Jay Rodriguez and partner Chris Wood. The duo of Barnes and Wood—two very difficult customers to contain—will look to give the Liverpool defenders a tough time.
Liverpool vs Burnley – Predicted Lineups
Liverpool Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas; Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita; Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane
Burnley Predicted Lineup (4-4-2): Nick Pope; Matthew Lowton, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Charlie Taylor; Josh Brownhill, Ashley Westwood, Jack Cork, Dwight McNeil; Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood
Liverpool vs Burnley – Key Players
Liverpool—Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane has an excellent record against Burnley with four goals and an assist in nine league games as a Liverpool player. The Senegalese had an underwhelming last campaign but showed signs of getting back to his former self with a strong display at Norwich. With his burst of pace and movement, he could give the Burnley defenders a tough time at Anfield.
Burnley—Ashley Barnes
Ashley Barnes is one of the dangerous target-men in the Premier League. Having ended Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten home run with a spot-kick last term, he’ll try becoming a party-pooper for the returning Liverpool fans at the weekend.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Burnley