Liverpool will host Burnley after their disappointing loss to Arsenal last weekend. Last Saturday, the Reds’ hopes were dealt a big blow when they lost 3-1 to Arsenal. Vincent Kompany’s team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 with Fulham.
Preview (Liverpool vs. Burnley)
It wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate to characterize Liverpool’s performance at the Emirates last weekend as a defensive disasterclass. The Reds’ 15-match Premier League winning streak and 11-game winning streak across all competitions. It persisted since their previous trip to North London, came to an abrupt end. After Bukayo Saka had broken the deadlock, a bizarre own goal by Gabriel Magalhaes may have tied the score against the run of play for Liverpool. However, in the second half, Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk combined to commit a defensive gaffe. It allowed Gabriel Martinelli to score openly.
The farewell of Ibrahima Konate added salt to the wounds of a rejected Jurgen Klopp’s team. They rightly lost and came away from the Emirates beaten and battered. It made the German manager admit that “everything” went wrong during their fruitless journey. In terms of Premier League rankings, Liverpool is still unbeaten. Their lead over Arsenal and Manchester City is now just two points. The Citizens, who have a game in hand, can move up to second place by defeating Everton in the midday start.
Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Muniz put Fulham ahead by two goals at halftime last weekend, bringing about one of the most predictable results in the Premier League this season: the Clarets losing at Turf Moor. The Belgian’s Citizens reunion on January 31 went as planned as Burnley lost 3-1 to the champions. But Chelsea loanee David Datro Fofana used his super-sub abilities once more with a late brace, scoring his second of the afternoon in the first minute of injury time, and allowing himself to be hounded by the jubilant Lancashire supporters after providing an assist off the bench against Man City.
Team News
Liverpool center defender Konate will serve a one-game suspension this weekend. He was forced to face the walk of shame for two bookable offenses on Sunday. This will allow Jarell Quansah to shine alongside Van Dijk in the middle of defense. Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Thiago Alcantara—who is playing for the first time since April—were all deemed healthy to take on the Gunners. However, Dominick Szoboszlai was a late scratch from the squad due to a thigh issue. It’s unclear if Conor Bradley will play this weekend after his father passed away.
Joel Matip (knee), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Mohamed Salah (thigh), Kostas Tsimikas (collarbone), and Joel Matip (thigh) are still sidelined. Wataru Endo ought to be available again for Klopp after Japan’s Asian Cup defeat last weekend. Regarding Burnley, injured players Luke Koleosho (knee) and Nathan Redmond (thigh) will watch this match from the sidelines, while Englishman Charlie Taylor can relate to Liverpool’s left-backs as he is dealing with a shoulder issue. Datro Fofana might have done more to push his way into the visitors’ two-pronged assault after his heroics against the Cottagers; Kyle Foster or Zeki Amdouni should make room for the Ivorian.
Liverpool 4-1 Burnley
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