What can we expect from Liverpool when they open the weekend against Burnley?

Liverpool opens Matchday 2 of the English Premier League this weekend and will not want to kick things off as Arsenal did on opening day when they lost to newly-promoted Brentford.

The Reds have a chance to make it two wins from two outings while at the same time handing Sean Dyche and his men their second loss in as many games. The Clarets got off to a poor start and had an unfamiliar showing in defence.

They are normally solid defensively but leaked two goals after leading the tie for 71 minutes – uncharacteristic indeed.

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However, what we’ve come accustomed to in recent meetings between Jurgen Klopp and Dyche, it never goes as planned and they are the team who have stopped the Reds dead in their tracks, time and time again.

They’ve stopped:

• Liverpool’s home winning streak back in 2019/2020
• Ended Liverpool’s marvellous record of 68 games unbeaten at Anfield

One must also remember, though, the Reds did win the last time the two met – and that game ended 3-0 in the Reds favour at Turf Moor – so what can we expect from Liverpool when they welcome Burnley to Anfield?

A fully packed Anfield Stadium!

A fully packed Anfield Stadium awaits the boys on Saturday early afternoon kickoff. It should be ear-bursting in the stadium as we can expect the best rendition of You Never Walk Alone you’d heard over the last decade or so.

This is one stadium across Europe many football fans have been waiting for a return. Hopefully, it exceeds our expectations and we are blown away by the energy and atmosphere at Liverpool’s long-lasting home ground projects.

A fit defensive line and maybe a surprise inclusion?

Virgil van Dijk is back and so is Matip and Gomez – this means – Liverpool will not be bullied so easily nor will they be beaten into submission.

If Klopp really wanted to show his power at the back he could start his new guy Ibrahima Konate, who is yet to make his Premier League debut for the club.

It’s not a sin to dream, but it would be amazing to see if Klopp would ever dive into the 3-5-2 formation; he has the fullbacks to do it and now also the centre-backs.

Sadly, a change in formation will have to wait; Fabinho, the trusted midfielder who protects the back four, lost his farther and could miss the game. Klopp could be short for numbers in the middle of the park and will stick with the 4-3-3 formation.

Mo Salah to join the 100 club

Mohamed Salah has already reached the elite feat at Liverpool when he became the 17th player in the club’s history to hit 100 goals back in 2020.

Now he is on route to another 100 record – Mohamed Salah is two goals shy of joining the Premier League’s 100 club. Adding to the potential achievement that can be struck this weekend if he scores a brace, Salah will become the fourth-fastest player to do so.

All-in-all, I’m going for a Liverpool win on Saturday. Revenge is on the cards for the Reds following all the heartache suffered at the hands of Dyche and his Clarets. There is a lot of heat involved in this fixture brought on from recent meetings in the past.

Things like the fans chanting against Klopp at Turf Moor. The little scuff of words between Sean Dyche and Jurgen Klopp in the tunnel last season. And of course, not forgetting, the painful ending of all Liverpool’s amazing records at the hands of Burnley.