Liverpool welcome Burnley at Anfield on Saturday with Premier League football making a highly-anticipated return to the home turf for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
The Reds secured a convincing win in their opening game of the newly commenced campaign with a 3-0 scoreline against the league’s new boys Norwich City with goals from Jota, Firmino and Salah ensuring all three points for the visitors.
Sean Dyche’s Clarets, meanwhile, head to Anfield over the upcoming weekend on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on opening day and Burnley will be backed to give their very best against a Liverpool outfit whom they had shocked in their previous travels to Merseyside last season.
Burnley had taken the three points off Jurgen Klopp’s men with a 1-0 win at Anfield courtesy of a late spot-kick from Ashley Barnes which gave birth to a horrid run of form at their own territory for the Merseyside giants and cast major doubts over Liverpool’s chances of making it through to the top-four in the league table.
Klopp’s men did recover in due time and brought a fantastic finish to their 2020-21 campaign with a Champions League berth in the bag but the Reds will be cautious when coming up against Dyche’s Burnley side this Saturday in a game where the Liverpool fans will be back in attendance flocking the Anfield stands.
Liverpool looked solid on all fronts in their first game of the new season against Norwich City and Jurgen Klopp will be counting on his players to replicate the recent display at Carrow Road and secure another victory against a much-weaker opposition on paper.
WHEN & WHERE?
🔜 A full house at Anfield
😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/Y9m2YgOtWg
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 18, 2021
Date: Saturday 21 August
Time: 11:30 AM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Klopp is unlikely to change his options in the heart of the defence for Liverpool with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip putting up a brilliant show last time around, meaning that Ibrahima Konate could have to wait a bit longer to make his debut start in top-flight action for his new colours.
Andy Robertson’s ankle ligament injury is not expected to subside in time for this weekend’s showdown at Anfield and Kostas Tsimikas is backed to continue in the left-back role for another outing.
Morning mood! 😀 pic.twitter.com/iAvSUU2ONn
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 18, 2021
Skipper Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara were not named in the matchday squad for the Norwich City clash but the midfield pairing featured in the recent behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston Villa, leading to speculation that either of the two could be in line to get on the starting teamsheet come Saturday.
KEY BATTLE
Sadio Mane vs James Tarkowski
Mane will be hoping to get back amongst the goals with the Senegalese forward, despite a decent performance last time around, the only name in the Liverpool frontline not to find the back of the net.
The Liverpool forward will be kept in check by Burnley’s defensive mainstay James Tarkowski who will be backed to cause a threat going forward as well with his heading ability a danger for opposition backlines when defending set-pieces.
Match Prediction
Liverpool are strongly backed to secure the win from Saturday’s game with the Reds fanbase back at Anfield to cheer on their side whom they tip for Premier League glory this season.
We expect the weekend clash to finish in a 4-0 win for Liverpool.
