Match Preview: Liverpool Aiming to Maintain Unbeaten Streak Against Burnley
Arne Slot's side are currently eleven games unbeaten across all competitions...
Liverpool host Burnley at Anfield in what would usually be seen as a routine Premier League fixture, but this time doesn’t feel the same. With the Premier League table tightening and Liverpool still searching for fluency despite an unbeaten run, this is a match that demands improvement. Burnley are languishing at the wrong end of the table and look increasingly out of their depth. The opportunity to build momentum is staring Liverpool in the face. It must be taken.
An 11-game unbeaten run in the Premier League has steadied the ship somewhat. But scratch the surface and performances have left much to be desired. Narrow wins, late goals and a lack of killer instinct have made games nervier than they should be. Burnley at Anfield is the kind of fixture that should be used to make a statement, but Liverpool will still have to earn that right.
Burnley’s Deepening Struggles
Burnley arrive desperate. They sit near the foot of the Premier League table with only 13 points after 21 games, eight adrift of safety.
Scott Parker, under increasing pressure from his own supporters, has tried to keep his side compact and combative. But low blocks, frustration tactics and hopeful counters only get you so far. Even their more encouraging showings like the draw against Manchester United or the narrow loss to Arsenal came at home. On the road, they have been toothless.
Anfield should be the last place Burnley expect relief. And yet, with Liverpool’s sluggish starts and tendency to let teams hang around, the visitors may quietly fancy their chances of stealing something. Parker will almost certainly set up to frustrate. But Liverpool’s job is to ensure this match is not played on Burnley’s terms.
Time for Liverpool to Flex
Despite the unbeaten run, the Reds have looked far from convincing. Drawing three of the last four league matches, and winning only four of the last ten, has slowed the charge for a top-four finish. With Champions League football next season still hanging in the balance, this is the kind of game that separates real contenders from the rest. The table might be forgiving today, but it won’t be in May.
Liverpool’s squad is stretched but still brimming with quality. Injuries to Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak, along with the absence of Mohamed Salah at AFCON, limit options. Even so, the expected XI contains enough creativity, pace and precision to break Burnley down early.
Wataru Endo is available again, though he may remain on the bench. That allows for a midfield combination of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, with Florian Wirtz likely occupying the central playmaker role. Hugo Ekitike is expected to lead the line. The summer signing has been a revelation with his natural instincts, sharp finishes and calm under pressure have already made him a crowd favourite. This is another game tailor-made for him.
Slot has hinted at rotating his full-backs, but Frimpong’s pace and directness seem too useful to leave out. On the left, expect Kerkez to continue, with Andy Robertson being kept fresh for upcoming European fixtures. The balance down both flanks will be crucial. Burnley will sit deep and try to deny space — it’s up to the full-backs to stretch the pitch and allow the likes of Wirtz and Gakpo to operate in the half-spaces.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ekitike, Gakpo.
Bench: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Robertson, Ramsay, Endo, Nyoni, Jones, Chiesa, Ngumoha.
Patience, Then Pressure
Burnley will not come to Anfield to play football. Their approach will be defensive, bordering on negative. If they commit bodies forward at all, it will be on the counter or from set pieces. The key for Liverpool is tempo in the final third and when in possession from deeper phases.
Too often in recent matches, Liverpool have started slowly, content to recycle the ball and wait for an error. That cannot happen here. Fast, vertical football is needed. If Burnley are allowed to settle into their shape, the frustration will grow. But if the Reds play on the front foot, press high and commit bodies early, the pressure will tell.
Slot will want his team to score early. The longer the match remains goalless, the more belief Burnley will find. But if Liverpool score in the opening 20 minutes, the visitors may already start thinking about their next match — a more winnable home game against Spurs.
Eyes on Ekitike and the Bigger Picture
This is a huge opportunity for Hugo Ekitike. With Isak injured and Salah away, the young striker has become indispensable. His link-up play, movement and ability to find space make him a nightmare for deep defences. Games like this are where he can add to his tally and build confidence ahead of bigger tests to come.
He’s intelligent with his runs, has quick feet in tight spaces and already looks like a bargain. If Liverpool can create chances, he will convert them. In a match likely to feature 70% possession for the home side, having someone who can operate in the box with that kind of sharpness is invaluable.
Looking wider, this fixture matters not just for the three points. The Premier League table is congested. Chelsea, Brentford, Newcastle and Manchester United are all within touching distance. Dropping points against Burnley would pile unnecessary pressure on the squad heading into a tough European night and a tricky away trip to Bournemouth.
Slot knows it. The players know it.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Burnley.