Liverpool Vs Burnley

Anfield

KO: 8pm

Sky Sports

Thursday 21st of January

It’s not been the best few weeks, has it? Liverpool find themselves leaking points, after almost two seasons of perfection a sharp positive reaction is desperately needed.

Despite much of the talk centred around the ‘makeshift’ nature of the Reds’ defence, it is the attack which needs a new lease of life, after just one goal in the last four league outings.

A points return which has seen Jurgen Klopp’s side slip to fourth in the table, and while the nature of the season ensures the gap is anything but insurmountable, the slide has to stop.

So tonight its a resolute Burnley side who sit just four points above the relegation zone after their own goal struggles, netting just nine in 17 games. Any Dyce team will be a tough physical challenge.

On paper, it sounds like a fixture, where Liverpool could struggle and drop points, so this has to be seen as another ‘dangerous’ match.

But while there has been little to hang onto recently, this side is not one to ride a slump for an extended period of time and let’s hope this fixture can act as a turning point at what would then be the halfway stage of the season.

Three points please, Reds.

So is Matip available?

The centre-back has missed the last four games due to an adductor injury sustained against West Brom, with the club having opted for caution against Man United on Sunday.

And at the time, Klopp suggested that the No. 32 would be available to start against Burnley and such hopes were boosted after it was confirmed he has trained “completely normal since Sunday.

While the boss remained coy in saying “we have to make a decision,” Matip is expected to mark his return, which could then see Jordan Henderson move back into his natural midfield role; a welcome return.

An update on Naby Keita was not provided on Wednesday, but patience looks to be the Reds’ course of action as a series of setbacks continue to ensure he is unable to pick up regular match time and build important confidence.

Diogo Jota remains absent and is “still a few weeks away,” while Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez  are on the long-term list and Kostas Tsmikas is back in the mix after his return to training prior to the Man United game.

For the visitors, defender Charlie Taylor has a chance of featuring having not played in 2021 to date but otherwise, they remain with few absentees.

My Final Note to Finish On

It has not been the best of times in front of goal, as we all know, so much so that for the first time since 2005 the Reds have not scored in four games in a row.

And they will be desperate to avoid five successive league games without a goal, a run last recorded in the 1999/2000 season.

But, interestingly, the date this fixture falls on could be a good omen as not since 1911 have Liverpool not scored in a game played on January 21 from 21 games.

At this point, we will take any sign of the barren run ending and we have club statistician Ged Rea to thank for shining a light on that little nugget.

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