Burnley
Three Clear Lessons From Liverpool’s Last-Gasp Win Over Burnley
Kerkez struggles, Salah’s penalty seals win after Hannibal Mejbri handball; Burnley defiant Unbowed
Liverpool moved back to the top of the table after a late penalty was awarded following Hannibal Mejbri’s handball, which Mohamed Salah converted from the spot. The scoreline disguised several worrying trends and a handful of encouraging developments for both sides.
Milos Kerkez’s introduction to life at Liverpool has been uneven. The 21-year-old arrived after two years at Bournemouth and was widely viewed as a ready-made successor to Andy Robertson. At Turf Moor his start was chaotic. He was booked 22 minutes in for flinging himself to the ground in the Burnley box, and was later penalised for a foul on Jaidon Anthony. With the risk of a second booking looming, Slot withdrew him seven minutes before half-time and Andy Robertson entered the fray and performed well. For now, Robertson looks the safer left-back option.
Mohamed Salah’s season has not begun as many expected. He has three goal contributions through four games but has often struggled to reproduce the fluency of last season. Summer change on Merseyside and tactical shifts have altered his service. Dominik Szoboszlai has filled a right-back role since Jeremie Frimpong picked up an injury, but his deeper positioning has limited combinations with Salah down the right. Liverpool’s first-half attacking bias down the left left Salah isolated at times; Conor Bradley’s introduction improved balance and link-up. Salah was wasteful on occasion, producing a number of poor crosses and speculative attempts, yet the penalty offered by Hannibal Mejbri’s handball allowed him to secure the points, which he duly converted.
Burnley under Scott Parker have shown resilience despite low pre-season expectations. Parker returned to the Premier League with plenty to prove and his squad, while lacking high-end talent, displayed the physicality and structure familiar from past Clarets sides. Their defence mixes experience and potential, the midfield provides bite, and Lesley Ugochukwu, despite his red card, should form a pivot alongside Florentino Luís. Up front Lyle Foster is a useful facilitator and Jaidon Anthony has offered an important attacking outlet in the early fixtures.
Burnley
Man City v Burnley: Tactical Preview, Team News and Predicted XIs
Haaland fit as City seek to overcome Burnley’s compact defence at the Etihad this Saturday 3pm GMT.
Manchester City host Burnley at the Etihad Stadium following contrasting midweek cup results. City progressed in cup action while Burnley were stunned at home by League One Cardiff City. The fixture arrives with Manchester City seeking to restore momentum after a mixed start to the 2025/26 campaign.
Erling Haaland has been central to City’s early goalscoring, having scored six of their nine Premier League goals this term. He missed City’s cup game with a reported back injury that troubled him the previous weekend but has been given the all clear to play against the Clarets. FPL managers will be tracking Erling Haaland’s fitness incessantly up until Saturday morning, with Bunley (H) enticing many to use their ’Triple Captain’ chip.
Injury updates leave City without Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov. Mateo Kovačić has returned to training and is in contention to feature for the first time this season. Guardiola was particularly complimentary of Phil Foden and Savinho in his prematch press conference, and both players could be included in City’s starting XI.
Kyle Walker faces his former club for the first time since leaving the Etihad permanently in the summer. With Scott Parker expected to deploy a back five, Walker will likely operate as a conservative wing-back on the right.
Burnley will assess Jacob Brunn Larsen ahead of kick-off but will be without Jordan Beyer, Connor Roberts and Zeki Amdouni. Lesley Ugochukwu was back in contention in midweek, though Parker could prefer summer arrival Florentino Luís alongside captain Josh Cullen in midfield.
Burnley have shown defensive resilience through five weeks of the season but arrive with a poor recent record against City, who have won the previous 13 meetings by an aggregate score of 46–2. City are likely to face a deep and compact Clarets block, with Jaidon Anthony offering a transition threat that must be managed.
Man City predicted lineup vs. Burnley (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri; Savinho, Foden, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland.
Burnley predicted lineup vs. Man City (5-4-1): Dúbravka; Walker, Laurent, Ekdal, Estève, Hartman; Tchaouna, Cullen, Florentino, Anthony; Foster.
Burnley
Guardiola confirms Haaland fit, cautious on Kovačić as Walker returns to Etihad
Guardiola says Haaland is available for Burnley; Kovačić recovering from May Achilles surgery. Live.
Pep Guardiola has provided clarity on Manchester City’s squad ahead of the visit of Burnley, confirming that Erling Haaland will be available for Saturday’s game. Guardiola offered a succinct assessment when asked about the Norway international. “He’s ready.” The manager indicated Haaland’s absence would not be extended, signalling confidence that the striker will be fit for selection.
Guardiola was more measured on Mateo Kovačić, who has not featured this season after suffering an Achilles injury in May. “Maybe,” was the verdict given to midfielder Mateo Kovačić, who has not played this season after suffering an Achilles injury in May. “It would help a lot to have Kova back. It’s a long injury, surgery, but he is getting ready. He is not fully ready but step-by-step.” Those remarks underline the long recovery process for Kovačić and suggest gradual reintegration rather than an immediate return to action.
Saturday’s fixture will also bring the return of Kyle Walker to the Etihad Stadium. Walker left City after falling out of favour last season, joining AC Milan on loan before completing a permanent move to newly promoted Burnley this summer. The reunion will be watched closely given recent events involving other former players. Walker will hope for a better reception than that endured by Kevin De Bruyne, who was substituted in the first half of Napoli’s defeat to City in response to an early red card.
Guardiola paid tribute to Walker’s contribution during his time at City. “Pretty sure everyone will be happy to see him back,” he said. “Players like that have been unbelievable for us. The right back that defined our time here in the last nine to 10 years. Pretty sure he’ll get the credit from our fans because he deserves it.” The manager’s comments framed the match as both a fitness update and a moment to acknowledge a player who featured prominently in the club’s recent history.
Burnley
Burnley v Liverpool: Preview, Team News and Predicted Lineups
Liverpool seek a fourth straight victory as Burnley, without Amdouni, Roberts and Beyer. At Turf Moor
Liverpool travel to newly promoted Burnley on Sunday looking for a fourth successive victory to start the Premier League campaign. On paper this is the Reds’ simplest fixture so far and recent meetings back that view. Liverpool have won the last five encounters with Burnley, conceding only once across those matches.
Burnley accept the scale of the task. Their Championship identity was built on a resolute defence, but the Clarets have found life tougher in the top flight, conceding six goals in fixtures with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. They did, however, keep a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Sunderland in their only home league match of the term.
Injury news for Burnley sees Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts and Jordan Beyer expected to be absent this weekend, with the rest of the squad reporting a clean bill of health. Florentino Luís, signed on loan from Benfica in the summer, could make his debut and add midfield depth. Jaidon Anthony has been a key attacking outlet with two goals and an assist, while Josh Cullen has also contributed two goal involvements despite an unfortunate own goal at Old Trafford.
Burnley predicted lineup vs. Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Dúbravka; Walker, Ekdal, Estève, Hartman; Cullen, Ugochukwu; Larsen, Mejbri, Anthony; Foster.
Liverpool supporters will watch Alexander Isak’s progress closely as he awaits his debut. The £125 million ($169.5 million) striker was used sparingly by Sweden during the international break as he returned to normality. Isak could travel with the squad but is not expected to start, with Hugo Ekitiké leading the line until Isak regains full match fitness.
Jeremie Frimpong’s return remains uncertain after two missed matches, with comments from the manager suggesting a comeback after the September international period. The Dutch coach has confirmed Curtis Jones will miss the trip because of an injury sustained against Arsenal.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs. Burnley (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitiké.
Liverpool’s attacking form — eight goals in three matches — suggests they will pose constant problems for Burnley. The visitors arrive with extra preparation time after the international break and are expected to control the game, while Burnley will need near-perfection to claim a result.
Olise transfer interest intensifies as Liverpool join Chelsea and Manchester City in chase
Martinelli backs Gyökeres to hit 30-40 goals with Ødegaard supplying the creativity
