The English Premier League action continues this weekend and on Thursday night we have a meeting between Liverpool and Burnley at Anfield.
The hosts begin the week in 4th place on 34 points while the visitors are down in 17th place on 16 points.
Liverpool come into the match having been held to a 0-0 draw at home by Manchester United. Liverpool were on top in the first half but Manchester United created the best chances of the match in the second half.
That result means Liverpool have won only one of their last 5 games in all competitions and that came against an Aston Villa youth team in the FA Cup.
Form in the Premier League shows Liverpool have failed to win any of their last 4 matches. There have been 3 draws, two of which have come at home against Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion plus a 1-0 defeat at Southampton.
However, Liverpool remain undefeated in their last 68 home Premier League games. Only once in their last 43 league games at Anfield have Liverpool failed to score a goal but clean sheets have become difficult to come by in recent home fixtures. In fact, Liverpool have kept just 3 clean sheets in their last 11 home Premier League matches although each of those have come in their 5 most recent home league games.
Burnley travel to Anfield on the back of a 1-0 defeat at West Ham United on the weekend. The Hammers took an early lead and Burnley failed to breakdown the hosts to suffer their 9th defeat of the season. That result means Burnley have lost each of their last 2 matches, both of which have come in the Premier League.
Away form in the Premier League this season has been poor and Burnley have won only one of their 9 away league fixtures. Having defeated Arsenal 1-0 on the 13th of December, Burnley have picked up just a single point from 3 away games and that came at Aston Villa. There have been defeats at Leeds United and West Ham United.
Trends show Burnley have been struggling to score goals away from home in the Premier League this season. They have found the back of the net just once in their last 7 away league matches.
Team news and Liverpool continue without the injured Diogo Jota, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, and Virgil Van Dijk. Joel Matip could return to central defence and there may be starts for James Milner, Curtis Jones, and Takumi Minamino.
Burnley have doubts over the fitness of Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Jimmy Dunne, and Charlie Taylor. Sean Dyche may decide to freshen things up in attack by starting Jay Rodriguez and Marej Vydra.
This is a match Liverpool must win. They have been on a disappointing run of results in the Premier League and cannot afford to keep dropping points. Burnley have struggled away from home this season and Liverpool could come out on top by winning the match to nil.