Burnley welcome champions Liverpool to Turf Moor in Sunday’s Premier League clash, looking to build on a spirited if inconsistent start under Scott Parker.
Burnley sit on three points from their opening three matches, having been heavily beaten at Tottenham, responded with a home win over Sunderland, and then pushed Manchester United close in a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford. Their record shows four goals scored and six conceded, with defensive issues standing out.
They have lost all three of their xG battles this season, sit bottom for shots in the box conceded, and have the division’s lowest SiB ratio at just 33.3%. On the ball, they average 1.07 non-penalty xG per game, leaving them with one of the weakest differentials in the league. Parker has spoken about being encouraged by aspects of the performances, but Burnley’s openness is clear.
Liverpool arrive in Lancashire with maximum points from their opening three games, despite not always finding top rhythm. They opened with a 4-2 win at home to Bournemouth, having let a 2-0 lead slip before reasserting themselves late on. That was followed by a dramatic 3-2 victory at Newcastle, secured with a stoppage-time winner, and a 1-0 triumph over Arsenal courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick.
Their nine points reflect resilience and depth, and the underlying data supports their position near the top. The Reds have collected 4.57 xPTS, sitting them in seventh place, they rank third in shots on target ratio (73.9%), and have conceded no big chances across their three matches.
Arne Slot’s side have also been boosted by the bedding-in of big summer signings Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, alongside the growing influence of Szoboszlai. Liverpool’s defence looks settled although open at transition, and their attack continues to produce high-quality chances.
With Burnley still vulnerable and Liverpool showing a knack for late winners, this shapes as a demanding afternoon for the hosts at Turf Moor.
Predicted line-ups
Burnley (4-2-3-1): Duravka, Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman, Cullen, Ugochukwu, Larsen, Mejbri, Anthony, Foster
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike