Dyche And Burnley A Tricky Test For ‘Perfect’ Liverpool

Liverpool’s 100% record in the Premier League will come under scrutiny this weekend as they travel to Burnley for what promises to be a real test of their title credentials.

Maybe it says more about the ability of Arsenal against the ‘big six’ of the Premier League, but Liverpool should find it a lot tougher against Burnley on Saturday night than they did against Unai Emery’s side last weekend.

The league leaders expertly dealt with The Gunners at Anfield last Saturday winning 3-1 thanks to a double from Mohammed Salah and a header from Joel Matip. Jurgen Klopp’s men had 25 shots in the game and Lucas Torreira’s consolation goal in the 85^thminute added some undeserved respectability to the scoreline.

That win has taken Liverpool’s points total to nine with three wins from three games but the trip to Turf Moor may prove to be the most difficult task Klopp’s side have faced so far this season.

Burnley have had a relatively strong start to the season and will feel hard done by the fact they don’t have at least seven points from nine.

A 3-0 thumping of Southampton on the opening day was followed by a resolute display at the Emirates, losing 2-1 to Arsenal despite having more shots on goal.

It was heartbreak last weekend for Sean Dyche’s men as well after a fine display at Wolves where Ashley Barnes’ thunderous strike gave Burnley the lead which they held right up until the 97^thminute when a contentious Raul Jimenez penalty snatched a point of their hands.

A Liverpool win doesn’t give you much in the results market nowadays but a Burnley win at 9.50* and a draw at 5.25* may be an appealing prospect.

BURNLEY TO BEAT LIVERPOOL – 9.50*

For Liverpool supporters, a trip to Turf Moor always seems like a daunting prospect and it is not a fixture the majority of travelling fans are ever confident about going into the fixture.

However, this is not a fixture that Liverpool tend to do too badly in. The Reds have only lost once in their last ten meetings with the Lancashire outfit, an infamous 2-0 defeast courtesy of a Sam Vokes brace in August 2016.

That means it is just one defeat in their last five visits to Turf Moor and going back further it is three defeats in the last ten trips. Richard Chaplow, Djimi Traore and incredible skill comes to mind for one of those defeats.

BURNLEY VS LIVERPOOL – BOOSTED ODDS

The early Premier League pacesetters have picked up where they left off from last season If the first three games are anything to go by.

The only club left in all four English divisions to still have a 100% record and stretching that back over last season and the final game of 2017/18, it means Liverpool have lost just once in their last 42 league games.

This campaign has seen Liverpool’s defence, including UEFA defender of the year Virgil van Dijk, be a lot less resilient than they were last season having conceded at least one goal in every game so far.

Last season a Jack Cork goal gave Burnley a surprise lead, however second-half goals from James Milner, Roberto Firmino, and Xherdan Shaqiri led Liverpool to a 3-1 win.

With that in mind, the markets of Liverpool to win and both teams to score at 2.65* and a score draw at 6.00* could be where the smart money is.

LIVERPOOL TO WIN AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE – 2.65*