The Liverpool Offside - Premier League 2021-22 Match Coverage: Liverpool vs. BurnleyZeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2021-08-21T14:29:03+01:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/223990112021-08-21T14:29:03+01:002021-08-21T14:29:03+01:00Liverpool 2, Burnley 0 - Match Recap: Liverpool Victorious in First Home Match of the Season
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<img alt="Liverpool v Burnley - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qcqlzFCfP3QMJA8ilsDjIGVki44=/0x0:3519x2346/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69756959/1335405254.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We react to Liverpool’s Premier League match against Burnley and give you a chance to vote for Man of the Match.</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="h.cy9vu8hi9cop">
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<strong>Liverpool</strong><strong> 2 - 0 Burnley</strong>
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<strong>Liverpool:</strong> Jota 17’, Mané 69’</h5>
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<h3 id="OY0auJ"><strong>Pre-Match </strong></h3>
<p id="ysb0MY">As with last week, this week the interesting news out of Anfield was the midfield. With James Milner out with a knock and both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabinho missing for personal reasons, Klopp fielded a trio of captain Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and Harvey Elliott to take on Burnley.</p>
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<h3 id="9g7JTR"><strong>First Half</strong></h3>
<p id="PqybVt">The first fifteen minutes of the match began full of mistakes for Liverpool, who couldn’t seem to string a decent run of passes together. Loose balls and simple interceptions from Burnley players seemed to be setting the stage for a frustrating afternoon. </p>
<p id="0hIfuI">However, that all changed 17 minutes in, courtesy of Kostas Tsimikas, whose beautiful left-footed cross into the box found the top of Diogo Jota’s head. Jota angled the ball with lightning precision passed the keeper, and just like that, Liverpool had taken control of the game with a one goal advantage.</p>
<p id="Ac99ZG">Mohamed Salah nearly doubled Liverpool’s lead, thanks to an excellent assist from Elliott, but he’ was fairly determined to be offside and the goal was called back.</p>
<p id="5PBqLr">After some early jitters, Liverpool controlled the second half of the first 45 and went into the tunnel leading Burnley 1-0.</p>
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<h3 id="OMLy60"><strong>Second Half</strong></h3>
<p id="jVXLvX">The second half kicked off with Ashley Barnes thankfully having a goal called offside. Liverpool had the likes of Roberto Firmino, Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones to call upon if legs began to tire. Liverpool looked slower defensively than they had in the first half, and that meant better opportunities for Burnley to control the ball in the first 10 minutes.</p>
<p id="owU4RF">Sadio Mané was clearly searching for his chance to get his first of the season. His hard work almost paid off 57 minutes in, but the Burnley defender did just enough to put Mané off the ball and send it out for a goal kick. Then again five minutes later, Mané got the ball in the box with his back facing the goal. He produced a neat back heel and got himself into position to get a shot off. Unfortunately, it was saved by Nick Pope.</p>
<p id="0QtXVm">A weak header straight at the keeper followed moments later, and still Mané got no luck — at least until one minute later. Mané’s persistence paid off. The Reds streamed forward in attack, passes slipping through the Burnley defense. It was Virgil van Dijk to Elliott to Trent Alexander-Arnold and finally Mané, who struck true and doubled Liverpool’s lead.</p>
<p id="IASSGo">Klopp made a double change in the 80th minute, taking off Jota and Keita in favor of Firmino and Thiago.</p>
<p id="DIbEYS">Van Dijk maintained the clean sheet for the Reds with an excellent tackle to deny Jay Rodriguez in the dying minutes of the match.</p>
<p id="QEsYkk">As a treat, Tsimikas gets a much deserved ovation as he was taken off, and Anfield had the pleasure of welcoming Joe Gomez back onto the pitch in a competitive match for the first time since his injury.</p>
<h3 id="9kWbdv"><strong>Final Thoughts and Man of the Match</strong></h3>
<p id="M5g122">Liverpool had some early shaky moments, but for the most part, they dominated the match. That’s five goals scored and none conceded in their first two games, a perfect start for the Reds.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/8/21/22634969/liverpool-2-burnley-0-epl-2021-recap-man-of-the-matchepicskyline2021-08-21T09:00:00+01:002021-08-21T09:00:00+01:00Liverpool vs. Burnley How to Watch and Liveblog
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<img alt="Burnley v Liverpool - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/62zNrqybpQ7xZyPcZRPaKTkp5G4=/1149x1452:3752x3187/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69756563/1319039290.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Live coverage of Liverpool’s Premier League match against Burnley with team news, television and streaming options, and an updated liveblog throughout the match.</p> <h2 id="h.xqab99p4bm2r">
<strong>LIVERPOOL</strong><strong> VS. BURNLEY</strong>
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<p id="USi3ww">| Saturday, August 21st |<br>Premier League | Anfield<br>12:30PM BST/7:30AM EST</p>
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<h2 id="dXLwZW"><strong>PREVIEW & HOW TO WATCH</strong></h2>
<p id="nvDAWw"><strong>Full Match Preview:</strong> <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/8/20/22633914/liverpool-burnley-epl-2021-22-match-preview-team-news-injuries-predicted-lineups">Liverpool vs. Burnley</a></p>
<p id="A89gRi"><strong>Television:</strong> BT Sport 1 (UK); Peacock (USA); Optus Sport (Australia); <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fprf.hn%2Fclick%2Fcamref%3A1100l4uLf%2Fcreativeref%3A1011l39034%2Fadref%3ALO&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHXA1GpbllI6ebg3zdww_P1MkZr2g">DAZN</a> (Canada); Star Sports Select (India); Astro SuperSport 3 (Malaysia); SuperSport MaXimo 1 (Nigeria); mio Stadium 108 (Singapore); SuperSport Premier League (South Africa); other listings at<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livesoccertv.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFDsBNye7lSS1YKUruzH_77Ci3V6A"> LiveSoccerTV</a></p>
<p id="2QkOfm"><strong>Streaming:</strong><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fubo.tv%2Flp%2Fsoccer%2F%3Firad%3D343747%26irmp%3D482924%26sharedid%3DTheLiverpoolOffside&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFTBepV5o0rAm2ZCvlDqS2pc76fAw"> NBC via FuboTV</a> (USA) | Online Radio:<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fvideo&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGuwj23dDrwRR1FqF-FaJA0JInvBg"> LFCTV GO</a></p>
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<h2 id="YuQvCx"><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong></h2>
<p id="yVDqJT"><strong>Starting XI: </strong>Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Elliott, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Jota, Mané</p>
<p id="HJ6B22"><strong>Subs</strong>: Adrian, Kelleher, Gomez, Konaté, Robertson, Thiago, Jones, Minamino, Firmino</p>
<h2 id="gOZEmK"><strong>BURNLEY</strong></h2>
<p id="gGvESu"><strong>Starting XI: </strong>Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Cork, McNeil; Wood, Barnes</p>
<p id="z8OHtP"><strong>Subs: </strong>Hennessy, Norris, Bardsley, Collins, Dodgson, Pieters, Thomas, Richardson, Rodriguez</p>
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<h2 id="qgUteZ"><strong>THE LIVERPOOL OFFSIDE MATCHDAY LIVEBLOG</strong></h2>
<p id="BCD9zU"><em>Liveblog will begin shortly before kickoff</em></p>
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<h2 id="M4zk8P"><strong>JOIN THE TLO COMMUNITY</strong></h2>
<p id="Ljeni1">If you haven’t done so already, take a moment to sign up for an SB Nation account and<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbnation.com%2Faccount%2Fsetup%3Fcommunity_id%3D373&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNE7cBLPRQkRWsQ4SPrE-2Un1a_7Vg"> join the community on The Liverpool Offside,</a> where we’ll bring you and your fellow Reds fans from around the world full coverage of every Liverpool match in the 2021-22 season in the Premier League, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a>, and domestic cups along with breaking news, insight and opinion, and tactical discussion.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/8/21/22634962/liverpool-vs-burnley-epl-2021-liveblog-team-news-lineups-tv-channels-online-streamingepicskylinerbhasker2021-08-20T19:49:33+01:002021-08-20T19:49:33+01:00Liverpool’s Front Four: Scoring Records and Healthy Competition
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<img alt="Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the second goal with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Liverpool at Carrow Road on August 14, 2021 in Norwich, England." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S8OD61IzugpwGpiNrKc5zlJoaT4=/193x0:4531x2892/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69754543/1334151070.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Roberto Firmino celebrates after scoring the second goal with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Liverpool at Carrow Road on August 14, 2021 in Norwich, England. | Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>While lack of squad depth remains a cry on social media, the Reds’ front four are all positives</p> <p id="CKQsBc"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané both go into the match preparations against Burnley with <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fnews%2Ffirst-team%2F441160-salah-and-mane-aiming-for-premier-league-scoring-landmarks&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2021%2F8%2F20%2F22634487%2Fliverpool-front-four-scoring-records-epl-competition-salah-mane-firmino-jota" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">goal-scoring records</a> within reach.</p>
<p id="IAF36i">Salah has scored 98 Premier League goals in his 159 appearances, and could join a very star-studded list should he reach a century of goals in his 160th league appearance. Only four players have scored 100 goals within their first 160 appearances in the competition: Alan Shearer (124 games), Harry Kane (141 games), Sergio Agüero (147 games) and Thierry Henry (160). </p>
<p id="8aCBTl">Meanwhile, Sadio Mané will be looking to score his 50th goal at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday, which would be a strong statement of intent for this season as fans return to cheer on the Reds.</p>
<p id="FjgGuf">For his part, Roberto Firmino loves a game against Burnley: the forward has been involved in six goals in his last six Premier League appearances against the Clarets, scoring five and assisting one (including the opening goal in the last May 3-0 victory at Turf Moor).</p>
<p id="ddZO9t">Last season Diogo Jota was scoring at a rate of a goal per 143 minutes in all competitions for Liverpool (and a goal every 89.3 minutes for Portugal), form that suggests he might have notched the 20+ goals mark had he managed a season without injury.</p>
<p id="uMtqEc">Mané, Salah, and Firmino all scored on the opening matchday, and Salah certainly tried as hard as possible to get his mate Mané on the scoresheet as well.</p>
<p id="K2emsC">While much has been made of Burnley having ended Liverpool’s home unbeaten run last season, it’s likely that the front four’s pure desire for goals will make a larger impact on the match than any urge for revenge.</p>
<p id="ebrRNp">What is nice to see, however, is the difficulty manager Jürgen Klopp must have in making his team selection: with all four players in form, there’s no easy way for the boss to choose the three to start — and that’s exactly what you want as a fan.</p>
<p id="LS2VsZ">Whoever Klopp selects will hope to contribute to a Liverpool home win in front of fans — and may know that the Reds are just three goals shy of 150 goals against Burnley in all league games. The good news? There have only been <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fnews%2Ffirst-team%2F441160-salah-and-mane-aiming-for-premier-league-scoring-landmarks&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2F2021%2F8%2F20%2F22634487%2Fliverpool-front-four-scoring-records-epl-competition-salah-mane-firmino-jota" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">three</a> goalless draws in the clubs’ 88 league meetings, and the last one to occur at Anfield took place in 1920. </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/8/20/22634487/liverpool-front-four-scoring-records-epl-competition-salah-mane-firmino-jotaMari Murphy2021-08-20T15:30:00+01:002021-08-20T15:30:00+01:00Preview: Liverpool vs. Burnley
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<img alt="Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool shakes hands with Sean Dyche, manager of Burnley" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I1Hp0D-fqbPqS2ij3YOHkyBRQXE=/1x0:4408x2938/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69752978/1134885767.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool shakes hands with Sean Dyche, manager of Burnley | Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Reds hope to continue their 2021/22 winning ways in front of a full Anffield.</p> <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Mkb5jm">
<p id="TbGQP9"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/"><strong>LIVERPOOL</strong></a><strong> VS. BURNLEY</strong></p>
<h5 id="h.lazk37c6ugo4">| Saturday, August 21st |</h5>
<h5 id="dV0pTQ">Premier League | Anfield</h5>
<h5 id="LGRepj">12:30PM BST/7:30AM EST</h5>
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<p id="Sp9bvx">Burnley come to Anfield on the back of a 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, a match which started well for them with a James Tarkowski goal in the second minute, but saw them fail to take any more of their chances — and, for once, Brighton took theirs.</p>
<p id="05TmE0">Coming to Liverpool, Burnley will be largely unchanged squad-wise. Sean Dyche’s team remain without Dale Stephens in the midfield and Kevin Long in defense as both men are recovering from surgery.</p>
<p id="4hJvax">Burnley are coming of a 2020/21 season that was a slight decline for them, both in points achieved (39) and underlying metrics (per <a href="https://statsbomb.com/2021/08/burnley-season-preview-2021-22/">StatsBomb</a>), but their style of play remains consistent: they look to attack through high-passes and crosses, and rely on their physicality. Last season’s dip might be attributable to tiredness — the schedule and lack of pre-season affected all teams — but might also be related to the age profile of the players. Time will tell.</p>
<p id="Sg8h0m">Though their form might end up being a bit better this season than last, we know what to expect when it comes to Burnley, and should be prepared. </p>
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<h5 id="h.8y1ddc6lu7ub"><strong>Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)</strong></h5>
<p id="TeavPH">Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Milner, Keïta; Salah, Firmino, Mané</p>
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<p id="XUqn65">Liverpool return to a full Anfield for the first time in over a year (“five-hundred-some days,” said the manager in his pre-match press conference), which should give the team a boost as they face the always-physical Burnley. The Reds will be perhaps even further up for the match as Burnley were the side to end the squad’s unbeaten home run of 68 matches last season (the Clarets won at Anfield 1-0).</p>
<p id="WVOCmz">Quietly, Liverpool are on the longest unbeaten run in the league if you include the run-in to end last season in your records. The Reds have gone 11 unbeaten, and have won the last six games played consecutively. </p>
<p id="Gr45fl">As for the starting line-up, Jürgen Klopp will have some decisions to make. Fabinho will be unavailable Saturday due to a family bereavement for the death of his father, but both Jordan Henderson and Thiago might return to the side. </p>
<p id="VgHwtY">Having Virgil Van Dijk back in defense will help deal with Burnley’s known threats immensely, though the lack of Fabinho is less ideal. We can hope that Jordan Henderson, who played behind closed doors earlier this week, is up for starting a match, as he is certainly the next best thing to Fabinho in the 6. </p>
<p id="hF6jOD">Klopp will have midfield decisions to make — James Milner is always up for a physical battle and could start his second consecutive match; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s directness might make him a smart choice; Curtis Jones should be cleared to play post-concussion protocols; Naby Keïta looked bright doing all sorts of industrious bits in the league opener; the list is, frankly, quite long — a nice change.</p>
<p id="wMIf5L">Up front the manager will likely have just the Diogo Jota quandary to deal with: the delightful thing being that I don’t think any of us will complain with any combination of the front four starting.</p>
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<h5 id="h.rk2313z4jjtm"><strong>What the Managers Had to Say</strong></h5>
<p id="HLALgN"><strong>Jurgen Klopp</strong>: “There are no guarantees, especially not against Burnley. They make life uncomfortable, defend really well, some really good footballers in the team. Sean [Dyche] is doing a really good job there, they can be annoying as well. Set-pieces, all this stuff. They have a really clear way of playing.”</p>
<p id="FoTtaU"><strong>Sean Dyche</strong>: “Last season they had some injuries, lost Van Dijk who is a Rolls Royce player, and we maybe caught the at a slower period and earned the right to win a game. There is no guarantee of doing that again!”</p>
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<h5 id="h.nz6w2xtc9f2q"><strong>The Officials</strong></h5>
<p id="kuwlsZ"><strong>Referee:</strong> Mike Dean <strong>Assistants:</strong> Darren Cann, Mark Scholes <strong>Fourth Official:</strong> Andy Madley <strong>VAR: </strong>Stuart Attwell <strong>Assistant VAR:</strong> Dan Cook</p>
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<p id="TT4Bkq">Kickoff is set for 12:30PM BST/7:30AM EST tomorrow. In the meantime, The Liverpool Offside team will keep you updated with all of the team news and match buildup as it becomes available, along with providing a matchday liveblog and post-match recaps and reaction. If you want to join the discussion, sign up for an SB Nation account and have your say on the action as it happens.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2021/8/20/22633914/liverpool-burnley-epl-2021-22-match-preview-team-news-injuries-predicted-lineupsMari Murphy2021-08-20T13:48:36+01:002021-08-20T13:48:36+01:00Klopp Talk: Thiago and Henderson Close to Return
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<img alt="Liverpool Training Session" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F7uR33t6mmViQ6vWPuulcko7Thw=/0x0:4141x2761/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69752354/1335028286.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Good news for the Reds as the key midfielders look set to play this weekend.</p> <p id="DGaeqA">In his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s game against Burnley, Jurgen Klopp offered some good news: the possible return of Jordan Henderson and Thiago to match fitness.</p>
<p id="TmPVCD">“They are much closer, yes. They look fine, now we have to make the decision”, he said.</p>
<p id="cis0q6">“They looked really good in the game and looked good in the training week, so it’s up to me to make some decisions.”</p>
<p id="xvrhVH">On the pressing issue of Henderson’s contract, he added, “Still all good. Nothing to be concerned about.”</p>
<p id="Sl8WWC">The news about Fabinho’s father’s death was met with an outpour of support from fans on social media and Klopp echoed that saying, “I would like to say it’s a private situation. Fab is here and is doing what he is able to do and that’s it pretty much.</p>
<p id="PDfpeC">“We all feel for him, we all feel with him and we give him and his family our condolences. We try to give him all the warmth, all the love we have in this moment and that’s it, the rest is private.”</p>
<p id="NY0ARa">On being reminded that Burnley ended <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s 68-match unbeaten Premier League home run at Anfield with a 1-0 win in January 2021, Klopp was unmoved, and indicated that that loss was not on their minds for this weekend.</p>
<p id="z2WXY0">“I didn’t even think about it. It was a strange one, yes we lost it, Burnley won it, well deserved. But it obviously has nothing to do with the game now. We will try everything to win our first home game in front of our crowd for 500-something days. We want to enjoy the fact that football can be enjoyed when you play in a positive way, and just go for it.” </p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/8/20/22633571/klopp-talk-thiago-and-henderson-close-to-return-liverpoolAvantika Goswami2021-08-19T11:00:00+01:002021-08-19T11:00:00+01:00Salah Nearing 100 Premier League Goals
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<img alt="Liverpool Training Session" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/X3S-uJba8NYL8B3hXa6YxIUiPjU=/0x0:3118x2079/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69746336/1334664793.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Mo has played just six seasons in England, including his lone year at Chelsea.</p> <p id="ikCWIo">This Saturday, Mohamed Salah will step onto the pitch at Anfield against Burnley with 98 Premier League goals. Given the form he was in against Norwich last weekend, he could very well grab himself a brace and become the latest man to join the 100 goals club.</p>
<p id="ohyhwd">A quick peek at the goalscoring charts indicates that he’s only six goals away from Didier Drogba who has 104 goals. For full context of Mo’s prolific goalscoring exploits, Drogba played nine seasons in England’s top flight, while Salah is on his sixth, including his lone year spent at Chelsea.</p>
<p id="jPxpqp">Teammate Sadio Mane is also nearing 100. He has 95 Premier League goals and will also likely cross the 100 goal mark real soon.</p>
<p id="Oi7QeS">Just for fun, these are the former Reds Mo and Sadio are bearing down on in the record books:</p>
<p id="h8KIOw">At number eight is Robbie Fowler, with his 163 goals, most scored early in his career with <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>. In tenth place, Michael Owen has 150 – again, most of which were scored with the Reds.</p>
<p id="vnqNZF">Two players who made brief stops at Anfield are in the 15th and 16th spots: Robbie Keane and Nicolas Anelka have 126 and 125 goals respectively.</p>
<p id="45BnjJ">At number 18 is Steven Gerrard with 120 goals, all of which came with Liverpool. It’s a super impressive tally for a midfielder (Frank Lampard is the only other midfielder in the top 20, sitting in fifth with 177 goals.) He should be overtaken soon by Jamie Vardy, who currently has 119 goals, and the returning Romelu Lukaku, who has 113</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/8/19/22631913/liverpool-fc-mohamed-salah-on-precipice-of-100-premier-league-goals-sadio-manedxtehsecks2021-08-18T16:30:00+01:002021-08-18T16:30:00+01:00Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool Eager to Play in Front of Full Anfield
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<img alt="Liverpool Training Session" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q8aexTIdteLRk7im9cj430QdW2g=/0x131:1832x1352/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69741873/1334661265.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>After a season mostly played without fans, Anfield will be loud for the 2021-22 home opener against Burnley.</p> <p id="YT0V0l">A compressed season. Countless injuries. And to top it off, no fans in the stands. The difficulties 2020-21 hit few sides harder than <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>, but with another campaign kicking off they’re looking to put that all behind them in short order.</p>
<p id="4Bc8u4">And for Trent Alexander-Arnold, the issue of empty stadiums and their impact on this Liverpool last season side is especially in his thoughts as he and his teammates prepare for their home opener on Saturday against Burnley.</p>
<p id="a1rdue">“It’s hard to think back to when the last game with a full house at Anfield was and how that felt,” Alexander-Arnold told YNWA Magazine “I feel as though we were taking that for granted so now when they all come back it will be an amazing feeling.</p>
<p id="7NclQl">“It’s also one of them where we’ve still got a job to do and we need the fans to help us. That’s something we’ve all been massively looking forward to and something that kept us going throughout the training camp.”</p>
<p id="Ep2owc">Liverpool already look energized for a new season. They looked it in pre-season, and they looked it against Norwich in week one, where a boisterous travelling Kop put their voices to good use to help push the players to a 3-0 victory.</p>
<p id="OxxQY5">Now, the team return home and look to add another notch in the win column, knowing that setting the pace early will be key to their dreams of winning major silverware this season in a season with multiple legitimate title contenders.</p>
<p id="8lOaWE">“We know what our targets are,” he added. “We want to win trophies. We expect that of ourselves. If we put in the work then I think we’ve got a good enough team, an amazing manager, and having the fans back will make a big difference.</p>
<p id="1OTfmo">“So there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be expecting to win trophies and have our eye on some more silverware come May.”</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/8/18/22630559/trent-alexander-arnold-liverpool-home-opener-look-forward-full-anfield-fans-return-epl-2021Noel Chomyn2021-08-17T09:00:00+01:002021-08-17T09:00:00+01:00James Milner Declares Joy At Playing In Front of Fans
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<img alt="Norwich City v Liverpool - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5DkxRVIH_BTUkc8GVmPKL1KULoE=/0x0:3222x2148/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69735191/1234682249.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The team played for the away fans at Carrow Road on Saturday.</p> <p id="FIIMIU"><a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> started their season off right with a 3-0 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road. And in the stands, cheering them on the whole time, was the away Kop, in full voice for the first time in over a year.</p>
<p id="0a9yMx">James Milner was a dark horse to start the game on Saturday, but the veteran midfielder played all 90 minutes of the game. After, he talked to the official site about how good it felt to be back in front of a roaring crowd.</p>
<p id="8uRPpq">“It’s incredible,” <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolfc.com%2Fnews%2Ffirst-team%2F440841-james-milner-reaction-incredible-return-of-fans-and-perfectionism&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fliverpooloffside.sbnation.com%2Fliverpool-fc-news-coverage%2F2021%2F8%2F17%2F22628289%2Fjames-milner-declares-joy-at-playing-in-front-of-fans-liverpool-premier-league-norwich-city" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Milner said</a>. “I remember the first few times I stepped out when there was nobody there and coming out of the tunnel it was the first time it really hit you because normally when you step out of the tunnel you either get the roar or booed or something, anything would have done, but it was just quiet and that’s what really hit you.</p>
<p id="exuhwN">“But having our fans here today singing all the way through and seeing them at the end, amazing to have them back and obviously it will be special next week at Anfield as well. We’ve missed them and hopefully we can keep putting in performances and getting results like today for them.”</p>
<p id="naf2By">While the away fans are one thing, having a full house this weekend at Anfield to watch Liverpool take on Burnley will be an amazing experience.</p>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/liverpool-fc-news-coverage/2021/8/17/22628289/james-milner-declares-joy-at-playing-in-front-of-fans-liverpool-premier-league-norwich-cityepicskyline