LIVERPOOL PREDICTED XI: BURNLEY (A)

Andrew Corns
Dec 4, 2018
4 min read

With Liverpool only having a little over 72 hours to recover from an emotional last-minute derby victory Sunday evening, their output in this match could go one of two ways.

They’ll either use that energy as a springboard to swarm and dominate their opposition or they’ll be so drained mentally that they’ll be left vulnerable and potentially drop crucial points at this stage in the season.

With that in mind, I expect Klopp makes several changes to keep his side fresh, but not go for wholesale moves which would risk disrupting the overall play.

He has their trip to Bournemouth on Saturday as another opportunity to make additional changes to the squad.

GK – Alisson Becker

Alisson got my Man of the Match after a sublime display against Everton that was capped off by a highlight reel save with the game in the balance in the first half.

Liverpool have depth at every position to allow Klopp the luxury of making changes when he needs to, but why cause any major disruption in net?

Now is not the time for me to risk playing Mignolet who isn’t as comfortable with the ball at his feet or generally as confident commanding his area. Stick with what works!

LB – Alberto Moreno

Here is where I think Klopp might start utilising the bench players, he has got available.

Moreno doesn’t work as hard defensively as Robertson but can go forward well and if he’s got van Dijk protecting him in the centre, I don’t see Burnley exploiting him the way Bournemouth might if he starts that game.

CB – Virgil van Dijk

With Klopp needing to change the squad several times this month playing eight times in 28 days, it’ll be key that either van Dijk or Joe Gomez features as the defensive anchor in every match.

I give Gomez the rest here and play van Dijk since the other defenders I think Klopp picks lack cohesion and will need a strong leader to make sure they keep a good shape.

CB – Dejan Lovren

It’s a toss-up between starting Lovren or Joel Matip alongside van Dijk. I’ve gone with Lovren here who plays better against physical sides like Burnley and then allows Matip to play Bournemouth on Saturday, most likely partnering Joe Gomez.

RB – Nathaniel Clyne

It’s easy to forget Nathaniel Clyne was the clear first choice right-back just over twelve months ago and has seen his place in the team drop to third choice behind both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez.

MF – James Milner

James Milner got a much-needed rest even though he’ll be disappointed he didn’t get to feature in a derby that would have suited his style of play.

I’m almost certain Klopp returns him to the team to work as a part of a midfield two that will protect the makeshift defence and help link play with the forwards.

MF – Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson also got a rest on Sunday, but it wasn’t out of choice thanks to his red card suspension in the previous match against Watford.

Say what you will about Henderson’s place in the team in ten to twelve months or if he deserves to wear the captain’s armband.

His experience, knowledge of Klopp’s tactical setup and passing vision will be key if Burnley sit deep and force Liverpool to break them down.

FW – Naby Keita

News came out on Monday that Sadio Mane is questionable for this match. With the size of Jurgen’s squad and the sheer amount of games to be played in December, there’s no reason to start Mane here.

Naby Keita has looked good off the bench in recent games and will be poised to return to the side and start making the impact most fans thought he could after his stellar preseason displays.

He worked out wide at Leipzig and that versatility will be the reason he slots into Mane’s role on the left-hand side of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

He’s also got the ability to interchange with any of the other four forwards if Burnley’s defensive setup frustrates the Reds.

FW – Xherdan Shaqiri

Count me amongst those who believes Shaqiri’s best role in the team once fully settled is as a number ten who can make plays in behind a striker.

The role’s been vacant since Coutinho’s departure in January and while Oxlade-Chamberlain found a home there at the end of last season, Shaqiri checks all the boxes for what you want out of this position.

FW – Mohamed Salah

There are a couple things working against Mo Salah this season that I think are worth mentioning.

First, he set the bar so high for himself last season that it would take something truly special to reach those heights again.

He’s on seven league goals which is among the best in the league and within distance of the Golden Boot award if he gets going in the second half of the season.

The second point to make is the way defenders are now playing him. Whether it’s out wide looking to find space or up top running off the defender’s back shoulder, other teams are game planning specifically for Salah.

There’s also an increase in the contact he’s feeling, and it feels like the ref could call a foul on every single play with the amount of aggression he’s up against.

It’s only a matter of time before he gets into the groove completely and starts bagging goals at will for a month before everyone forgets any early season “struggles” he’s had.

ST – Divock Origi

This is the most controversial pick in my opinion and to be honest, it’s based mainly on heart over head.

Nobody in the Liverpool dressing room will feel better after Sunday than a man some may have forgotten was still with the club.

Thanks to Daniel Sturridge’s last chance to break into the team and the thought that Dom Solanke passed him in the depth chart, Origi’s place at Anfield never looked more vulnerable.

That all changed with one of the strangest goals you’ll ever see. To Divock’s credit, he looked lively the instant he stepped on the grass, making a bombing run past a defender down the right wing and hitting the bar in unlucky fashion with the game still level.

If he’s ever going to feature in a Liverpool team from the start this season, this is the perfect spot for it to happen.

Give him sixty minutes to see if he can parlay Sunday’s goal into more success and if he struggles, you always have options like Firmino and Sturridge available to turn the match around.