Liverpool vs Burnley: Sadio Mane can continue dream start for Reds
- Dave Tindall
- 20 August 2021
The Senegalese frontman looks sharp again and can continue his strong record against the Clarets by firing in the opening goal on Saturday.
When: Saturday, August 21, 12.30pm BST
Where: Anfield
How to watch: BT Sport
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After enduring a series of setbacks and a huge drop in form, Liverpool finished last season like a train to snatch third place and a Champions League spot.
Patch the two seasons together and it's now six straight Premier League wins. Stretch it back a little further and it's 29 points out of 31. That's a return to the title-winning form of 2019/20.
In fact, but for conceding last equalisers to Leeds and Newcastle in that run, they'd have the full 33 from 33.
Burnley, by contrast, lost seven of their last nine games at the end of last season and kicked off with a 2-1 home loss to Brighton despite taking a second-minute lead.
However, they do at least have positive recent memories of trips to Anfield...
Last three matches
Burnley 0-3 Liverpool (Premier League - May 19, 2021)
The Reds were on a late-season charge to grab a Champions League spot when they turned up at Turf Moor last season and got the job done via a 3-0 win.
They wasted plenty of early chances before Roberto Firmino slotted home two minutes before half-time to put the Reds in front.
This was Liverpool's fourth straight win at Turf Moor after Jurgen Klopp lost his first match there 2-0.
Liverpool 0-1 Burnley (Premier League, - January 21, 2021)
An historic win for Burnley. Not only did they record their first victory at Anfield since 1974 but they ended Liverpool's astonishing 68-game unbeaten home run which had lasted nearly four years.
The man to inflict the killer blow was Ashley Barnes, who was tripped in the box by Alisson before slotting home the resulting penalty seven minutes from time.
Liverpool 1-1 Burnley (Premier League - July 11, 2020)
They'd won their first 17 and were on track to make it 18 when Andy Robertson headed home Fabinho's cross in the 34th minute.
Last 10 head-to-heads
Liverpool wins: 6
Draws: 2
Burnley wins: 2
Liverpool goals: 19
Burnley goals: 10
Can Burnley upset the Reds again?
And, secondly, those two recent draws were both played in an empty stadium. Anfield will be a much different proposition with the home fans back and they can help sweep their team to victory.
Two-goal margin makes sense
This is unlikely to be a cakewalk for the Reds so I'll go for the winning margin of 2 goals at 13/5. That gives us 2-0, 3-1 and even 4-2.
Liverpool won their last two home fixtures of 2020/21 by 2-0 scorelines (Southampton and Crystal Palace) while two recent head-to-heads against Burnley show the Reds winning 3-1 and 4-2 (Anfield 2019).
With Virgil van Dijk back in action after missing the majority of last season, the chances of that are much higher.
Goalscorer bets
The man to miss out was Sadio Mane but the Senegalese frontman looked sharp against Norwich and is clearly feeling the benefits of a break after being run into the ground over the last few seasons.
That run includes a brace in a 4-2 home win in 2019.
He scored Liverpool's first goal in that match while he also fired in the opener in the Reds' final two home games of last season.
Mane is 13/5 to score Liverpool's first goal and that's the bet.
Get short of cards
It's easy to imagine that Burnley nullified Liverpool in past Anfield meetings by getting at them and pushing the limits: and subsequently, that could have resulted in taking a few for the team and picking up yellow cards.
However, Burnley have received a combined three yellow cards in their last three trips to Anfield and the latest meeting between the pair at Turf Moor didn't produce a single booking.
With referees seemingly applying a lighter touch this season, I'll back Under 2.5 cards at 10/11.
