Liverpool is flying high after a rare win at the Emirates last Sunday. The win was just the second on the road at Arsenal since 2001 in all competitions. This week the Reds hit the road for the second-straight week, heading to Burnley on Saturday.
(Editor’s note: this Liverpool starting XI prediction and corresponding analysis was composed by Will Willems (@willdub88)
Liverpool will most likely make only one change in the back.
Simon Mignolet is the clear No. 1 keeper with Loris Karius still out with injury. Nathanial Clyne is the choice at right back and the center back pairing of Lovren and Klavan played fairly well at Arsenal. The one change in the defense will come at left back, where Alberto Moreno struggled mightly against the Gunners.
Without many other options, Jurgen Klopp will turn to veteran James Milner who has recovered from a heel injury.
Emre Can came on as a substitute at Arsenal, but is fully fit now and should be ready to feature at Burnley. The question comes as to who he starts in place of, Jordan Henderson or Georginio Wijnaldum?
Wijnaldum looked the better of the two last week, assisting on Adam Lallana’s goal in the second half and being a factor box-to-box. He also seems to have caught the eye of Klopp in the pre-season, playing more minutes than any midfielder, so he is going to get the nod over the captain against Burnley.
The Liverpool attack suffered a setback in the middle of the week when Sadio Mane injured his shoulder in training. The injury isn’t deemed to be serious, but his arm is in a sling and he is doubtful for the match.
The Liverpool front four looked good last week once they got into the flow of the game and Klopp will want to keep that as intact as possible. Lallana and Countinho will stay in their positions, with Firmino dropping back to the right wing.
The Reds have options up top, with Daniel Sturridge back in training and Divock Origi ready to go. The choice is Origi, with Klopp hinting at the move in his pre-match presser.
Sturridge should be available off the bench, but Origi gets the starting nod.
GK Simon Mignolet
RB Nathanial Clyne – CB Ragnar Klavan – CB Dejan Lovren – LB James Milner
DM Emre Can – DM Georginio Wijnaldum
ARM Roberto Firmino – ACM Phillipe Countinho – ALM Adam Lallana
FW – Divock Origi