Premier League Match Day 18 When: Friday, December 26, 6:00 PM East African Time Where: Turf Moor Burnley Football Club FC vs Liverpool FC Burnley manager Sean Dyche has defended his Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers ahead of their Barclays Premier League meeting on Boxing Day. Liverpool have thus far failed to recreate their scintillating form of the 2013-14 campaign, and they come into Fridays clash at Turf Moor 10th in the table and without a win in their previous three outings. Having sold Luis Suarez in the summer and with last seasons second top scorer Daniel Sturridge also absent for most of the campaign through injury, Rodgers side have struggled to earn consistent results and Dyche expressed his sympathy for his opposite numbers position. Its a tough one, he said. How do you define the complexities of management? You take the team so far and so quickly last year then lose two players for different reasons, its very difficult. Theyre still a very talented team so well certainly not be taking Liverpool lightly. We know the realities of the job. Brendan certainly does; I do. Overall, Brendan has a newish group and is trying to mould them into a team. Getting it to work takes time and it is difficult because the demand [for results] is instant. The hosts continue to have doubts over Michael Duff (calf), while Matt Taylor (Achilles) and Sam Vokes (knee) are nearing returns but unlikely to feature. Stephen Ward (ankle) is definitely out. Fabio Borini is suspended for the visitors, who are also without Joe Allen (knock) and Glen Johnson (groin), but Mario Balotelli returns to Liverpools squad after serving a one-match ban. While Rodgers is happy to have attacking options returning to his squad, having utilised Raheem Sterling up front recently, the Northern Irishman concedes Balotellis playing style forces him to alter his tactics. Weve seen it isnt really his game, Rodgers said of the Italians willingness to press. Working with Mario we see someone who is better in and around the box so that level of intensity and pressing isnt part of his game. You try to get the best out of the players you have and the quality you have. Brad Jones is likely to continue in goal, though Rodgers was quick to back previous number one Simon Mignolet. I took him out to give him the chance to reflect and also to allow him to refocus on his game,” said Rodgers. Players need that at times. It was a really busy period and it was a difficult moment for the team. I havent lost any belief in him. Hes still an outstanding goalkeeper, and Im sure when the time comes for him to return, hell be a better goalkeeper for it. Burnley (from): Gilks, Heaton, Duff, Keane, Lafferty, Long, Mee, Reid, Shackell, Trippier, Arfield, Boyd, Chalobah, Howieson, Jones, Kightly, Marney, Taylor, Wallace, Barnes, Ings, Jutkiewicz, Sordell, Vokes. Liverpool (from): Jones, Mignolet, Jose Enrique, Lovren, Manquillo, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Can, Coutinho, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Lucas, Markovic, Suso, Balotelli, Lambert, Sterling. Match Appointments Referee: Anthony Taylor Assistants: G Beswick, S Ledger Fourth Official: C Boyeson Match Facts Liverpool have lost both Boxing Day fixtures under Brendan Rodgers stewardship. Liverpool won both matches against Burnley 4-0 in the Clarets only season in the Barclays Premier League. Danny Ings (four goals and two assists) has been involved in 50% of Burnleys BPL goals so far this season. The woodwork at Turf Moor has been struck 10 times this season; more often than any other BPL ground.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 17:28:28 +0000
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