Prediction: Burnley vs Liverpool

Verdict: Total away goals over 2.5

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Premier League champions Liverpool will aim to extend their flawless start to the new campaign when they make the trip to Turf Moor for Sunday’s early kickoff against Burnley.

Arne Slot’s side stand as the only team still boasting a perfect record in the top flight, while newly-promoted Burnley have adapted to life back among England’s elite more impressively than some expected.

Burnley

Burnley’s record against Liverpool in the Premier League makes for grim reading, with the Clarets losing 14 of their 18 encounters. Facing reigning champions has also been a punishing experience, as they have suffered defeat in 10 of the last 11 such fixtures, conceding 30 goals in the process. The sole exception was a memorable victory at Anfield in 2021, when Sean Dyche oversaw a shock triumph.

It is still difficult to judge exactly where Vincent Kompany’s men stand after three games. Their campaign began with testing trips to Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, where they battled gamely but fell short, while their only outing at Turf Moor ended in a vital win over fellow newcomers Sunderland.

The Clarets built their promotion charge on a superb defensive record, conceding just 16 goals across 46 Championship matches. However, life in the top flight has been more punishing, with six goals already shipped in three games. If they allow two or more on Sunday, they will join an unwanted piece of history, becoming only the second English side to concede at least half of their previous season’s goals in the opening four fixtures of the following campaign.

Still, Burnley can take heart from their formidable home form, having gone 25 league matches unbeaten at Turf Moor. That record will be tested to the limit against the champions, especially with a daunting run of fixtures ahead, which includes Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Team News

Jordan Beyer and Connor Roberts are edging closer to returns from knee injuries, but this game looks to have come too soon for both. Zeki Amdouni remains sidelined with a serious knee issue, although Hjalmar Ekdal is expected to feature after shaking off a minor knock while on Sweden duty.

New loan signing Florentino Luis could be handed his debut in midfield.

Liverpool

August proved the perfect launchpad for Liverpool’s title defence, with Arne Slot’s men recording three wins from three, including an early statement victory over Arsenal. Now, the champions are chasing history, aiming to begin a Premier League season with four straight wins for just the third time. Their previous perfect starts came in 2018-19, when they finished with 97 points, and in 2019-20, when they went all the way to lift the title.

Victory at Turf Moor would also mark the third consecutive season in which the reigning champions have won their opening four games – a feat achieved by Manchester City in each of the last two years – and it would be the first time in English top-flight history that such a streak has occurred.

Liverpool enter as overwhelming favourites, not only due to the gulf in quality but also thanks to the summer arrival of Alexander Isak, signed from Newcastle for £125million to further bolster an already fearsome attack. Slot’s side have now scored in 37 consecutive league matches – their longest-ever run – and after investing nearly half a billion pounds in the squad during the summer, their firepower looks as daunting as ever.

This fixture comes at a pivotal point in a demanding schedule, with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby both visiting Anfield in the following week. Slot will hope his team can approach the game with the same ruthlessness shown against a Scott Parker side in 2022, when Bournemouth were humbled 9-0. History is also firmly on Liverpool’s side, as they have won eight of their last nine visits to Turf Moor, including the last six in succession. A seventh straight success would make Burnley just the fourth team in history to lose seven consecutive home meetings with the Reds.

Team News

Attention will inevitably turn to the teamsheet an hour before kickoff to see if Isak makes his first start. Given he has only 18 minutes of competitive action under his belt this season, he may be eased in from the bench. Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo have both impressed, with Gakpo also continuing his form for the Netherlands over the international break, so dislodging either will not be straightforward.

Defender Ibrahima Konate is available after representing France, while Jeremie Frimpong has overcome a hamstring problem.

Midfielder Curtis Jones, however, is sidelined after sustaining an injury in the win against Arsenal.

Conclusion

Burnley have already conceded three goals each against Tottenham and Manchester United, and Liverpool, who operate at a significantly higher level, should prove even tougher to contain – especially with the attacking threat of Alexander Isak now in the mix.

The Clarets’ record against the Reds at Turf Moor is grim, having lost each of their last six encounters, and all signs point to that sequence continuing on Sunday. Liverpool look set to stroll to another comfortable victory.

Verdict: Total away goals over 2.5

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: ZetBet