Liverpool vs Burnley
Premier League leaders Liverpool are looking to get their title pursuit back on track as they host hot relegation candidates Burnley at Anfield.
Liverpool’s bid to dethrone perennial champions Manchester City suffered a substantial blow last weekend as Arsenal defeated Jurgen Klopp’s charges 3-1 in North London, inflicting them a first loss in the Premier League since late September. After relinquishing a 15-game unbeaten league streak (W10, D5) and allowing second-placed Man City to reduce the gap to two points, the ‘Reds’ return to Anfield, seeking a fifth consecutive top-flight win against Burnley. Each of their four H2H victories in the build-up to this contest came ‘to nil,’ which has been the case in 44% of their home league triumphs in 202324 (49). Even without a clean sheet, Liverpool should have a field day, considering they’ve been the most formidable home side in the Premier League this term (W9, D2).
On the other hand, Burnley’s dreaded relegation scrap has fallen into disarray after a 2-2 draw at Fulham last weekend extended their winless league run to five matches (D2, L3). Stranded seven points adrift of safety, the ‘Clarets’ come into this daunting-looking fixture as betting underdogs. Unless under-pressure manager Vincent Kompany invents something special, Burnley’s 64% loss ratio on the road in 202324 (W2, D2, L7) could get worse. All signs point to that direction as they’ve lost back-to-back away league matches in the lead-up to this trip, ominously conceding precisely three goals on both occasions. Bringing other competitions into the equation, Kompany’s men have lost eight of their last ten games on hostile turf (W1, D1), strengthening the Belgian’s fears over another dreadful result.