Premier League: Liverpool to Seize the Moment

Liverpool vs Burnley

When the going gets tough, the tough get going; and over the last couple of weeks things have become a little tough for Liverpool.

So long the league leaders, Jurgen Klopp’s team has just fallen behind Manchester City after a run of games where the goals have come in fits and starts, whereas earlier in the season the Reds were sweeping all before them. But the gap at the top is only one point, and it’s critical to Liverpool’s title prospects that they overcome Burnley on Sunday.

Premier League, Liverpool vs Burnley is the big Sunday lunchtime clash and Anfield will be bouncing. But the Reds need to seize the game and get a goal as early as they can, because the longer they fail to score the more the crowd will transmit their nerves to the pitch.

And that will be Burnley’s strategy, to keep their hosts quiet against huge odds, and Sean Dyche’s team has character in bucket loads.

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Talking Points

Talk of pressure is no good for Liverpool

A draw with Everton last week opened the door for Manchester City to take the top spot in the Premier League but Jurgen Klopp insists that won’t make any difference to his team’s mood. There is no reason why they can’t beat Burnley if they play to their ability, but having seen a seven point lead disappear can play tricks on your mind.

The Reds are likely to be four points behind City when they kick off against the Clarets, as Pep Guardiola’s side hosts Watford on Saturday. But Klopp remains focussed on the task in hand saying: “Our only problem this week is Burnley and that’s enough – we have to be really good to beat this team, Dyche is doing an amazing job. We have to be prepared for the fact it will be tough.”

Liverpool needs the Anfield crowd to roar his team on and Klopp knows Burnley will do its utmost to frustrate. Dejan Lovren and James Milner are doubtful, but despite patchy scoring form of late, the forward line still picks itself, spearheaded by Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, who is the Reds’ man in a rich vein of scoring.

Burnley’s Two Ashleys in fine form

The Clarets’ Premier League success over the past few seasons has been built on solid defence, with three England keepers on their books and the impressive centre back pairing of Ben Mee and James Tarkowski. But a recent eight match unbeaten run owed much to the form of their forward players.

Burnley’s Ashley Barnes has been slowly getting the spotlight in his previous Premier League performance — Ashley Barnes celebrates after scoring a goal against Tottenham

Striker Ashley Barnes has nine goals, six since Christmas, and his partnership with Chris Wood is a real handful. And midfielder Ashley Westwood is a dynamo with quick feet, a fine eye for a pass and six assists to his name.

Burnley’s unbeaten run was ended at Newcastle, when Westwood was ill, and the Burnley midfield lost a lot of its zip.

Liverpool won’t need reminding of the danger Burnley poses. The Clarets recently beat and outplayed Spurs at Turf Moor. And in the last meeting between these two teams, in December, Burnley was leading until well into the second half, before Klopp brought Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino on; and those two players made the difference.

This fixture last season was a 1-1 draw and a repeat of that would be a shocker for the Reds.

History

The recent history between these two sides has been a little tetchy, Klopp and Dyche having a public spat over the conduct of each others’ players in Pool’s December victory at Turf Moor. Mee put in a hard but fair challenge on Joe Gomez which broke the young England defender’s leg, and the Reds’ boss was critical of Burnley’s physical approach. But Dyche responded in kind by saying Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge took a dive to give Liverpool an advantage. That alone makes me think the Liverpool vs Burnley highlights will be well worth a watch!

Klopp says there are no hard feelings any more, but if his team fails to beat Burnley on Sunday it might be worth asking him again…

Liverpool has won seven of the previous ten meetings and I think they’ll make it eight in 11. So let’s take a look at the latest SBOBET odds to see where the value is.

Betting Tip

	Liverpool vs Burnley	First Half Under 1.50 Goals @ 1.75
	March 10, 20:00 (GMT+8)

With the Premier League 2019 odds putting Liverpool at 1.17 to win, Burnley at 14.50 and the draw at 7.00, you’d be excused for thinking that Burnley isn’t in the same league. In many ways they aren’t, but both have won two of the last six, including draws away to Manchester United.

Liverpool has had three 0-0 draws in the last four games, but in their last two home league matches they have spanked Bournemouth 3-0 and Watford 5-0. I won’t rule Burnley out, though I think a 2-0 home win looks likely and Liverpool will have to work hard for it.