Liverpool vs Burnley – Reds looking to cement top four position

Things have turned around in recent weeks thanks to impressive wins over Tottenham Hotspur on February 11 and last week’s 3-1 win over Arsenal.

The fact this gives fans more palpitations than last week’s match with Arsenal says everything you need to know about how unpredictably predictable the Reds are becoming.

Injuries have restricted the pair to just 10 league outings together but on the rare occasions they have played alongside one another the team has not been beaten, with five wins and five draws and just nine goals conceded. The visitors will sit in a very deep 4-4-2 formation that forces Liverpool to confront a brick wall of bodies in the final third.

Liverpool now sits fourth in the Premier League table, but Arsenal and Manchester United are close behind and have a game in hand on the Reds. They have the creative options to do so, but they have not shown that at all in 2017.

Liverpool are in fourth place in the Premier League table and two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal in the race to secure a place in the Champions League next term.

Klopp’s side are still without the services of Adan Bogdan, Danny Ings, Jordan Henderson, and Daniel Sturridge, and Roberto Firmino has also now become a concern.

Tom Heaton is expected to make a return into Burnley’s goal after missing last weekend through illness.

As Burnley visit Anfield this weekend, thoughts will turn to their first defeat of the season at Turf Moor in August where once again the lack of a plan B saw Liverpool lose 0-2 despite holding 80% possession.

Despite being sent out to the far reaches of European football over the last two seasons – and even worse, Hull – Lazar Markovic has insisted that he still has a future at Liverpool.

“They are probably the best counter-attacking team in the league and that’s why they have done so well against the teams around them”, says Sky Sports’ tactics expert Danny Higginbotham.

It is a tough one to predict. “It’s a great place to go and play so we’ll be up for it and everyone is really determined to get over this away form”.

Can has been an important man for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp and his predecessor Brendan Rodgers, making 118 appearances in under three seasons. Origi on the other hand would hope he grabs this rare opportunity and help his side stake a claim in the top four battle. That’s the trend for Liverpool right now. It’s tight between second and sixth but I fancy Liverpool to finish in that top four.