Premier League: Christmas in Burnley? It’s Not That Bad!

Burnley vs Liverpool

Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool make the short trip to Burnley on Tuesday for a mouth-watering Boxing Day bash.

There is always a bit of spice in these fixtures; Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp had more than the odd spat with current Everton boss Sean Dyche when he was the head man at Turf Moor. And Burnley’s current manager, Vincent Kompany, gave Liverpool plenty of headaches in his time as a Manchester City star.

Burnley fans have not warmed to Klopp in recent years, and last week, he made a quip which had them spitting out their tea. In a press conference at Anfield, with a cheeky smile, Klopp said, “Burnley is a great place to celebrate Christmas.”

He’s since qualified his comment, saying that he would just rather be with his family and would be equally unhappy if he was in Fiji and, in any case, one of his best friend’s family lives in Burnley.

I wonder what the citizens of Fiji will make of that! Anyhow, there will be some festive spirit at Turf Moor, particularly as the Clarets come into the game on the back of a 2-0 win away to Fulham, and Klopp and his team are sure to receive a hot reception. 

Liverpool will make the trip on the back of a 1-1 draw with league leaders Arsenal and can go top with a win as the Gunners don’t play again until Thursday so, with a huge prize on offer, Klopp might just enjoy himself in Burnley on Boxing Day night.                             

Talking Points

Berge is Burnley’s best hope   

After returning to the top flight with over 100 points in their Championship-winning campaign, Kompany’s young Clarets were tipped for a mid-table finish, but their Premier League 2023 results have been disappointing, and they currently sit in 19th place and three points from safety.

There has been a big overhaul of the playing staff at Turf Moor, and some players are taking time to settle in the best league in the world. But there have been some bright sparks. 19-year-old Wilson Odobert has scored four goals in his ten appearances, including a stunner against the Cottagers on Saturday, and keeper James Trafford is growing in confidence.

The return of key striker Lyle Foster has given the Clarets a boost too, but the player who can drive Burnley to safety is midfield ace Sander Berge. 

In a small team, the 6’5″ Norwegian is a powerful presence, strong at set pieces, and has the ability to shake off challenges and make surging runs into opposition territory, as he did against Fulham when he fired in the Clarets’ second.

At 25 years of age, Berge is one of Burnley’s more experienced stars, and he is at home in the Premier League. If he continues his current run of form, he can take pressure off the younger stars.

The re-invention of Trent

Mo Salah scored a sensational equaliser in Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal, cutting in from the bi-line onto his left foot and smashing an unstoppable drive high into the net.

It was the Egyptian hitman’s 12th goal of the league campaign, and he is pushing Erling Braut Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot. But while Salah has been scoring great goals for a decade, Trent Alexander-Arnold is writing newer headlines on Merseyside with his spectacular array of passing.

The England star made his name as a raiding wing-back with a brilliant cross, making countless assists, but he was sometimes caught out defensively. So Klopp now utilises him in a more fluid midfield role, and his incredible long-range passes are a lethal weapon from the centre of the park. His ball to find Salah was as superb as the striker’s finish, and if Burnley allowed him too much space, they could suffer.

History

As all diehard Clarets will know Burnley beat Liverpool to win the 1914 FA Cup but in more recent times Liverpool have been dominant in this relationship, winning 12, losing three and drawing two of the last 17 meetings. The last time the two teams met, in 2022, Fabinho stabbed home to give the Reds a 1-0 win at a rain-swept Turf Moor.  

The Clarets have been improving of late, winning two, drawing one and losing three of the last six, while Liverpool have won three, drawn two and lost one.   

Betting Tip

This SBOTOP writer is hoping against hope that the Clarets can bring off a miracle and give us some Christmas cheer on Boxing Day, and it’s not totally out of the question at odds of 6.18 for a win, 4.61 for a draw and 2.87 the Double Chance, win or draw.  The Premier League 2023 betting odds make Liverpool third favourites for the title and if they are to make a charge then this is a game they really need to win. I suspect they will, but Christmas sometimes throws up an odd result and I think a game with two or three goals is a safer bet.

 

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