Burnley vs. Liverpool – 3 Key Battles
A Liverpool team that looks like it knows what it is doing goes up against a tough side away, Burnley might not be scoring a ton of goals and winning games but they are a difficult team to face when they play at Turf Moor. Liverpool have looked much better since Rodgers found a new formation to play with, dropping Balotelli and others while giving Markovic and Sterling new positions to play in.
Burnley lost last time around to Spurs and will be looking to play spoilsport to Liverpool who themselves left it late to get a draw against Arsenal, when they really should have won the game thanks to their dominance early on.
The game will be a tough one to call and here are 3 key battles that could decide which way the 3 points swing.
Burnley Centre backs vs. Raheem Sterling
One positive Liverpool have found since the new formation was being used was Raheem Sterling looking like his old self. Sterling has been playing as a striker up front supported by a couple of wingers and his pace and trickery has often confounded defenders while he tries to do as much damage as possible.
The goals might not have flown in for Sterling but he is a tough customer to deal with, Keane and Shackell, the Burnley defenders will have their hands full dealing with the 20 year old attacker.
Danny Ings vs. Martin Skrtel
Ings has been Burnley’s best choice for attacking and leads the club with 4 goals this season, although he has been injured often during the season, he is their main threat and will be looking to take on a Liverpool side that doesn’t defend very well.
Martin Skrtel was Liverpool’s hero in the last game as he scored a goal in the 97th minute to give the Merseysiders a point against the Gunners. The battle between Ings and Skrtel will be one to keep an eye for since neither of them ever give an inch to the opposition, this was testament to how Skrtel kept playing on despite needing staples in the back of his head while playing against Arsenal.
Ashley Barnes vs. Mahmadou Sakho
The other striker at Burnley scored a spectacular goal against Spurs and will be looking to do the same when his club takes on Liverpool. Ashley Barnes might not be scoring regularly but he does look like a decent player and he will be looking to continue his scoring run against the Reds.
Sakho, who has just come back into the Liverpool team, might continue in the centre of the defence since Lovren is still a doubt for the team and while he does look like a solid defender but he isn’t the best ball players and this is something the Burnley strikers would exploit, either way the attack vs. defence aspect will be something to look out for in this game.