After conceding top spot to Manchester City via a 0-0 draw against Everton, Liverpool no longer hold their own destiny. Sitting one point behind the champions, Jürgen Klopp’s men must take on each game one at a time and hope for the best in City’s games.
Coming up next for the hopeful champions are Burnley. Sean Dyche’s men come to Anfield winless in their last three and sit in 16th place, 5 points above the drop.
I spoke to Burnley fan Matt from @NoNayNever to see how Burnley were getting along as they prepare to come to Anfield during a potential season defining period for both teams.
Last season was a fantastic historic one for Burnley where they finished an astonishing 7th. 29 games into this season and they sit 16th, 5 points above the relegation zone. What has caused the massive drop off?
Quite simply an unsettled start to the season in many ways. The Europa League campaign was an amazing, once in a generation thing for most Burnley fans but it also disrupted the start of our season. Add to that injuries to Pope and Heaton meaning we had to recruit Joe Hart, compared to 12 months before we just weren’t as settled and prepared and at full strength for the demands of the Premier League and were playing catch up from day 1.
Was last season a one-off fluke?
It’s looking like it was. There was a part of many fans that hoped we could maintain what we had done in that season, but I think deep down we knew that was the fluke and bottom half of the table is where we should realistically expect to be.
One thing that is very intriguing is Burnley’s goalkeeper situation. Nick Pope was great last year but was for replaced by the disappointing Joe Hart, who himself has been replaced by the returning Tom Heaton. Who do you think should be the number one?
Well, at the first Europa League match in late July, Heaton would have returned but picked up an injury just before, meaning Pope started, just a week after returning from the World Cup, and then dislocated his shoulder. This forced Dyche to go into the market for a keeper and to be honest, it was no surprise that he went for Joe Hart. The question of who should be number one has divided opinion since Pope’s emergence last season but I think all Burnley fans agree that when all are fit, Hart would be 3rd choice and so wouldn’t be surprised if he moved on in the summer. There is also a massive appreciation of how much we’ve missed Heaton since he returned at Christmas and so he is probably edging the number one spot, also he is club captain.
Huddersfield, Fulham and Cardiff are the clear favourites to go down, but do you fear that Burnley could be dragged into that battle and surprisingly go down come the end of the season?
After the Spurs win and we had gone 8 unbeaten. We were all looking up the table for the first time this season but quick back to back defeats to Newcastle and Palace has brought us all back down to earth and left us looking nervously over our shoulder and trying to predict how many points Cardiff will pick up from their remaining games. They have to come to the Turf still so that may prove to be the key match. Our run in after that is tough so we want to be safe by then.
What is Burnley’s greatest strength and weakness?
Our greatest strength is when we play with organisation, everyone knowing their job and doing it with high intensity for 90 minutes. Some of our best performances this season have come against Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool when we don’t let them play.
Our greatest weakness is when we then can’t replicate that against teams around us and take points from them, thus distancing ourselves.
Who has been Burnley’s best player so far? And who has been the most disappointing?
There are a number of players who have impressed so far, Barnes, Heaton and Taylor, but Ashley Westwood in Centre midfield has been one of the stars of the season and it showed when he missed the Newcastle game last week.
There were many disappointing performances in the first half of the season and it would be hard to single anyone out, however, Robbie Brady has looked a shadow of his former self after returning from a year out injured.
Burnley’s backs will be against the wall from the moment the referee blows his whistle. If Burnley are to get anything from this match where do you think they can hurt Liverpool?
Like I mentioned before, if we press you constantly and stop you from playing your normal game and frustrate you we will hope to stay in the match and then pounce when the moment presents, much as we did at Old Trafford and at home against Spurs.
How do you rate this Liverpool side?
They are a big improvement on last year with much more consistency and have done well to keep in touch with City. It will certainly be an interesting run in and the title may be decided more by who has the ‘easier’ European run.
What are your biggest worries going into this match?
That we don’t start well and concede early on. We don’t have a great record from coming behind in games. The longer we stay level, the more likely we are to get something from the match.
How do you think Dyche will line up his side?
He is a man of consistency so will line up as last few matches 4-4-2: Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil; Barnes, Wood.
How do you see this match playing out?
Heart says we play like we did at Old Trafford and get a point. Head says you’re too strong for us and if your front 3 gets going it could be 3 or 4 nil. Let’s hope the heart is right!
