Liverpool’s go to of Burnley this weekend is a must-win within the Premier League title race, they usually face a beleaguered Clarets outfit who look doomed to relegation.
The Reds’ 3-1 defeat away to Arsenal has blown the title battle large 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 the moment 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 recreation and extra.
How have issues been since we final spoke on Boxing Day?
I believe irritating greatest sums up the way it’s felt to be a Burnley fan and participant because you visited the Turf at Christmas.
Frustratingly, now we have performed effectively in some matches and never bought something to indicate for it – defeat to Spurs within the FA Cup, for instance – and the inconsistency of the Premier League‘s officers has price us factors in opposition to Aston Villa and Luton.
Kompany continues to baffle us along with his staff choices and substitutions, too.
Does Kompany have the complete assist of the fanbase?
Positively not. Even those that try to assist Kompany, myself included, are discovering it laborious to clarify what he’s attempting to attain with this squad past enjoying at being a Premier League supervisor.
He’s undoing a number of the superb work he did final season in constructing a aggressive and entertaining squad which had an amazing 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 probably the most for Burnley this season?
Satirically, 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 boring 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 may very well be when he introduced him in 12 months in the past.
In a nutshell, our defence have struggled as a bunch all season, with James Trafford being thrown within the deep finish in purpose, and alternating between sinking and swimming at this stage.
A settled again 4 is wanting much less seemingly 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’ll be laborious pressed to search out even probably 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 holding 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 intense factors of an in any other case disappointing afternoon in opposition to Fulham, there may be the faint hope that issues might enhance, however we might effectively have run out of time already.
Planning for the Championship is effectively underneath means amongst followers and almost certainly at boardroom stage additionally.
What are your ideas on Jurgen Klopp’s shock departure?
I will likely be brutally trustworthy with you, I’ve struggled to heat to Jurgen Klopp and gained’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 could have of him, regardless of him clearly being a prime supervisor and having a wonderful file in his time at Liverpool.
We are going to 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 probabilities now?
It’s yours to lose, regardless of Man City‘s recreation in hand.
I believe should you provided Pep Guardiola back-to-back Champions League wins or a fourth Premier League title, he would take the previous and we might even see him give attention to that and slip up in a single or two league matches.
Having stated that, you’ll be able to by no means rule them out, and together with your 2020 title being all however sealed earlier than lockdown hit, it will likely be fascinating to see should you can preserve going and match them week in, week out.
As for Saturday, the place will the important thing battles happen?
I believe it will likely be a recreation of battles between forwards and defenders in the primary, and sadly, I believe it will likely be your attackers which have extra pleasure in opposition to our struggling again line.
I believe your defence may even be saved busy by whoever Kompany places up entrance for us, nevertheless, and they are going to be seeking to frustrate and pounce on any errors.
In the event 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 probably the most persistently is Alisson.
Lastly, what’s your prediction?
Liverpool 3-1 Burnley.
Most likely a comfort purpose for the Clarets in direction of the top, just like our consequence on the Etihad just lately.
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