Liverpool predicted line-ups and teams for the Premier League clash against Burnley on Saturday afternoon
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool with team-mate Alexis Mac Allister(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Back to the Premier League. Liverpool will look to extend their 11-game unbeaten run and take a firm grip on fourth place and a Champions League qualification berth when they entertain struggling Burnley at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Arne Slot’s side have become harder to beat of late the Reds head coach is keen to bring more attacking flair against a Clarets team likely to pack their defence.
And here the ECHO writers consider how Liverpool could line up for the clash against opponents who were only beaten by a dramatic late penalty at Turf Moor back in September…
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Paul Gorst
So no Mohamed Salah yet for Liverpool as he prepares for a third-place play-off with Egypt against Nigeria, but the return of Hugo Ekitike has not come a moment too soon for Arne Slot.
Ekitike, who scored his 12th goal of the campaign against Barnsley off the bench on Monday night, comes straight back into the starting line-up in the Premier League and leads the line against struggling Burnley.
There’s also a return to the team for an in-form Florian Wirtz, who operates off the left for my front three. His good pal Jeremie Frimpong can also be stationed on the right side to add some pace and dynamism to that flank before Salah’s comeback next week.
In midfield, I am retaining Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones and there’s a recall for Ryan Gravenberch, who sat out the win over Barnsley. Alexis Mac Allister drops to the bench as a result.
At right-back, it’s Joe Gomez who gets the nod with Conor Bradley now sidelined. The long-serving and versatile defender will be needed to deal with the set-pieces and high balls into the box and he offers better protection on that front than the diminutive Dutchman that is Frimpong.
Elsewhere along the backline, Virgil van Dijk partners Ibrahima Konate and Milos Kerkez keeps his place. Alisson Becker returns in goal to complete the XI. Now to make it 12 games unbeaten with a first Premier League win of 2026.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Jones; Frimpong, Ekitike, Wirtz.
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Ian Doyle
The prospect of facing yet another team quite happy to put everyone behind the ball and play for set-pieces and counter-attacks probably isn’t going to make this game that appealing for the Anfield faithful.
Three points, though, is an imperative before the Champions League visit to Marseille in midweek. What, then, is Liverpool boss Arne Slot to do?
Having rotated heavily for the FA Cup win over Barnsley on Monday, we can expect a lot of changes. Such as in goal, where Alisson Becker should return between the sticks.
Ibrahima Konate can partner skipper Virgil van Dijk at centre-back while Milos Kerkez replaces Andy Robertson at left-back. Jeremie Frimpong, however, will have to keep going at right-back.
In midfield, more alterations. Ryan Gravenberch can join Alexis Mac Allister at the base of the engine room with Florian Wirtz the number 10. Curtis Jones can be kept for the Champions League.
And up top, it’s Dominik Szoboszlai back on the right this time, with Cody Gakpo left and Hugo Ekitike returning down the middle.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Conate, Van Dijk, Question; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoslai, Wirtz, Gacpo; Ekitic.
