Liverpool will be hoping for their second consecutive win when they face Burnley on Saturday. The side had opened its Premier League campaign with a 3-0 victory against Norwich City. Also in action on Saturday would be defending champions Manchester City, who will host Norwich. City had lost 1-0 to Tottenham in their first game of the season.

Ahead of the game against Burnley, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp made an appeal for goalkeepers to get more protection in their six-yard box. The timing of his comments was telling, given how big an emphasis Burnley puts on set pieces and balls into the area for its goals. Burnley are widely regarded as the most physical and direct team in the Premier League.

At the press conference, Klopp raised the question if goalkeepers were being protected enough. “The poor guy is the guy in the goal. If he is not protected anymore in the six-yard box, it’s a different game,” he said.

Burnley opened their Premier League 2021 season with a 2-1 loss to Brighton. Even though Burnley lost the match, their style of crosses and long passes was at display. Burnley’s James Tarkowski scored an early goal against Brighton — via a cross from a corner — awarded despite the center back appearing to push his marker, Neal Maupay.

Burnley’s direct and typically long-ball approach would be a major challenge for keeper Alisson Becker and the defence line led by Virgil Van Dijk.

The match is being played at the Anfield Stadium in Liverpool.

Liverpool vs Burnley: Starting XIs

Liverpool: Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Harvey Elliot, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane. 

Burnley: Nick Pope, Matthew Lowton, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Charlie Taylor, Johann Gudmundsson, Jack Cork, Josh Brownhill, Dwight McNeil, Chris Wood, Ashley Barnes. 

The other Premier League Games on Saturday are:

– Manchester City vs Norwich City

– Everton vs Leeds

– Brighton vs Watford

– Brentford vs Crystal Palace.