Liverpool’s go to of Burnley this weekend is a must-win within the Premier League title race, and so they face a beleaguered Clarets outfit who look doomed to relegation.
The Reds’ 3-1 defeat away to Arsenal has blown the title battle extensive open in what was a bitterly disappointing afternoon.
Subsequent up for Jurgen Klopp‘s aspect is Saturday’s conflict with Burnley at Anfield, with Vincent Kompany’s males at present nineteenth within the desk.
With the match edging nearer on a regular basis, This Is Anfield’s Henry Jackson spoke to Matt from No Nay By no means podcast (@NoNayNever) to debate two differing seasons for each side, Saturday’s sport and extra.
How have issues been since we final spoke on Boxing Day?
I feel irritating greatest sums up the way it’s felt to be a Burnley fan and participant because you visited the Turf at Christmas.
Frustratingly, we’ve got performed nicely in some matches and never obtained something to indicate for it – defeat to Spurs within the FA Cup, for instance – and the inconsistency of the Premier League‘s officers has value us factors in opposition to Aston Villa and Luton.
Kompany continues to baffle us along with his crew alternatives and substitutions, too.
Does Kompany have the total help of the fanbase?
Undoubtedly not. Even those that are attempting to help Kompany, myself included, are discovering it onerous to clarify what he’s attempting to attain with this squad past enjoying at being a Premier League supervisor.
He’s undoing numerous the wonderful work he did final season in constructing a aggressive and entertaining squad which had an awesome relationship with the supporters.
We’re struggling to attach with them, and subsequently be affected person and understanding, as they wrestle with the leap to Premier League stage.
Who has stood out and struggled essentially the most for Burnley this season?
Mockingly, it’s the newer gamers which have stood out.
Luca Koleosho was good till his harm, and since then, Wilson Odobert have been the brightest sparks in an in any other case uninteresting marketing campaign.
Sander Berge in midfield has settled in and is displaying class, and earlier than his spell out with private points, Lyle Foster was wanting just like the Premier League striker that Kompany assured us he might be when he introduced him in 12 months in the past.
In a nutshell, our defence have struggled as a gaggle all season, with James Trafford being thrown within the deep finish in objective, and alternating between sinking and swimming at this stage.
A settled again 4 is wanting much less probably with every passing matchweek, with accidents disrupting Kompany’s plans, assuming he has some.
Will you keep away from relegation, or are you resigned to it now?
You’d be onerous pressed to search out even essentially the most optimistic of Clarets supporter nonetheless believing we will survive with out the assistance of factors deductions elsewhere.
Eight factors adrift with no consistency in conserving clear sheets isn’t the muse on which to construct a survival bid.
With a brand new centre-back Maxime Esteve, right-back Lorenz Assignon and striker David Datro Fofana the brilliant factors of an in any other case disappointing afternoon in opposition to Fulham, there’s the faint hope that issues might enhance, however we might nicely have run out of time already.
Planning for the Championship is nicely beneath approach amongst followers and most probably at boardroom stage additionally.
What are your ideas on Jurgen Klopp’s shock departure?
I shall be brutally trustworthy with you, I’ve struggled to heat to Jurgen Klopp and received’t be unhappy to see him depart the Premier League.
I really feel his complaining about numerous topics has tainted the view followers of different groups can have of him, regardless of him clearly being a high supervisor and having a wonderful report in his time at Liverpool.
We’ll all wait and see if there’s a participant exodus this summer season and who will try to fill the big void he’ll depart.
How do you assess Liverpool’s title possibilities now?
It’s yours to lose, regardless of Man Metropolis‘s sport in hand.
I feel when you provided Pep Guardiola back-to-back Champions League wins or a fourth Premier League title, he would take the previous and we may even see him concentrate on that and slip up in a single or two league matches.
Having mentioned that, you’ll be able to by no means rule them out, and along with your 2020 title being all however sealed earlier than lockdown hit, it is going to be fascinating to see when you can preserve going and match them week in, week out.
As for Saturday, the place will the important thing battles happen?
I feel it is going to be a sport of battles between forwards and defenders in the principle, and sadly, I feel it is going to be your attackers which have extra pleasure in opposition to our struggling again line.
I feel your defence can even be saved busy by whoever Kompany places up entrance for us, nevertheless, and they are going to be trying to frustrate and pounce on any errors.
Should you may solely have one Liverpool participant at Burnley, who wouldn’t it be?
There’s a wealth of expertise to select from.
For me, although, your greatest all-round participant who carries out his duties professionally and essentially the most persistently is Alisson.
Lastly, what’s your prediction?
Liverpool 3-1 Burnley.
Most likely a comfort objective for the Clarets in direction of the top, just like our end result on the Etihad lately.
