Liverpool FC, having now fallen out of first place for the first time in 2019, can’t afford any more slip-ups in the Premier League title race. Although just a point behind Manchester City, they are now in the very unenviable positions of being the chasers, not the chased.
They have to take all three points from as many games as possible during the nine match run-in. Anything less than a win against Burnley, a lower table side that will no doubt park the bus tomorrow against the Reds, would be disastrous. Liverpool have no excuses this season for not finally ending their title drought, but that hasn’t stopped manager Jurgen Klopp from making all kinds of crazy excuses for losses lately.
Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides in this one.
Defender Dejan Lovren (hamstring issue) and midfielder James Milner (knock) are doubts for this one. Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee ligament) is on the long term comeback trail, and making excellent progress, but he’s still at least a couple weeks away.
Same holds true for another long term injury absentee- defender Joe Gomez.
Switching over to the visitors, Burnley have two long term injury absentees out for this one: Steven Defour (calf) and Aaron Lennon (knee).
Jurgen Klopp news conference video via YouTube:
Liverpool FC vs Burnley FYIs
Kickoff: Sunday, March 10, 12 pm, Anfield
Liverpool starting XI prediction: go to this link
Google Result Probability: Liverpool win 83%, Draw 12%, Burnley win 5%
Recent form: Liverpool DDWDWD Burnley DDWWLL
Odds: Liverpool 2/11, Draw 7/1, Burnley 21/1
Prediction: Liverpool 2, Burnley 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.