In a captivating Premier
League Boxing Day encounter at Turf Moor, Burnley prepares to host Liverpool in
a clash between the second-best and second-worst teams.
Vincent Kompany's squad
enters the match with renewed confidence after an unexpected 2-0 victory over
Fulham, bolstering their bid for survival. On the other hand, Liverpool's
recent high-stakes battle against Arsenal ended in an exhilarating 1-1 draw.
Burnley will closely
monitor the fitness of key players such as Jack Cork, Johann Berg Gudmundsson,
and Aaron Ramsey, while Luca Koleosho remains unavailable for selection.
Liverpool, meanwhile,
faces concerns over the fitness of Luis Diaz and the absence of Darwin Nunez,
who has been benched in recent games. Additionally, Kostas Tsimikas' shoulder
injury opens the door for Joe Gomez to assume the left-back position.
Burnley's recent triumph
over Fulham highlighted the brilliance of Wilson Odobert, who scored a stunning
curler in the 47th minute and provided an equally impressive assist to Sander
Berge, securing a 2-0 victory. This win ended Burnley's winless streak on the
road since October 3 and propelled them up the table, although they remain
three points away from safety.
The Clarets have gifted
their fans early Christmas joy, accumulating seven of their 11 Premier League
points in December, including an impressive 5-0 triumph over Sheffield United
that halted a seven-game losing streak at home. However, they encountered a
setback with a home defeat against Everton on December 16. Additionally,
historical Boxing Day fixtures have proven challenging for Burnley, with five
of their last seven ending in defeat.
As Burnley aims to
maintain their positive momentum throughout December, their clash against
Liverpool at Turf Moor adds another layer of intrigue to their ongoing battle
for survival in the Premier League. The outcome of this match will play a
significant role in shaping their fortunes as the season progresses.