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Burnley enjoy home advantage on matchday four in the English Premier League, as they face off against Liverpool. The defending champions are in town looking to build on a perfect start after taking nine points from their opening three matches. Can the Reds make it four wins from four matches, or will the Clarets upset the odds for a second win in four?
Flashscore's experienced football and gambling writer Frank Monkhouse compares the form of both clubs, checks the head-to-head stats, and casts his eye over the current betting odds. Keep reading for his Burnley vs Liverpool preview and predictions, including a play at a nice price that could make it a beautiful Sunday.
Burnley vs Liverpool tips
Under 2.5 goals @ 11/8 (bet365)
Ekitike to score first @ 9/2 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Hosts to keep it tight
Burnley gained promotion to the Premier League after finishing second behind Leeds United in the Championship last term. They pushed the team from Elland Road hard all the way to the finish line, before eventually having to settle for the silver medal. Critics suggested Scott Parker's team would struggle at the highest level of English football, quickly realising the gulf in class between the Championship and Premier League.
The hosts enter matchday four sitting in 14th, one point and four places above the relegation zone at this early stage. They impressed when beating Sunderland 2-0 at this venue on matchday two, snatching the points thanks to second-half goals from Cullen and Anthony. Despite the positives, the win over the Black Cats is sandwiched between two defeats, with three goals conceded in those games.
Burnley opened the season with a painful introduction to Premier League football when losing 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They then beat Sunderland in the EPL and Derby in the League Cup second round, but were brought back to earth with a bump when losing by the odd goal in five at Old Trafford. Parker will demand a better showing from his defence, and I'm confident he'll get it. A bet on under 2.5 goals would've landed you a profit in each of Liverpool's last two visits to Turf Moor.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals @ 11/8 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Your bet wins if the match produces fewer than three goals for both teams combined.
Reds will remain top
It was a summer of change at Liverpool, as the champions lost some of their most popular players, replacing them with fresh blood. Will Arne Slot make it two title wins from two attempts after the success of last term? It's likely, and Liverpool have started their defence in fine form, banking three wins from their first three matches. They enter round four in pole position and know a solid away win would keep them top of the pile.
The visitors beat Burnley home and away during the 2023/24 season, scoring five goals and conceding just one. They won 2-0 when they last dropped by, thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota. It's worth knowing that Liverpool haven't lost to Burnley in six matches, a run that stretches back to January 2021. That's too good to ignore, and encourages us to stick with the champions. You can add Liverpool to your weekend multiples with confidence.
After opening the season with a simple 4-2 win over Bournemouth, the Reds beat Newcastle 3-2 at St James' Park, scoring deep into added-on time to turn one point into three. They made it three from three when heading into the international break with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Arsenal at Anfield, and I'm confident they'll continue that winning streak to a perfect four. When backing Liverpool, the final score isn't important, just the result.
Tip: Liverpool to win @ 3/10 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Liverpool beat Burnley, your bet lands.
Frenchman is a smart bet to score
Our final bet in the Burnley vs Liverpool match, played on Sunday at 14:00 BST, is on star striker Hugo Ekitike to continue his impressive scoring form. The 23-year-old Frenchman arrived at Anfield from Frankfurt this term and has had no issues finding his feet in the UK. Hugo came with a big reputation and quickly convinced the Reds' fans with three goals in his first three games.
He notched a debut goal as his side drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in the Community Shield at Wembley. Hugo then got his first EPL goal in a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth on Merseyside. The striker from Reims completed the set by getting amongst the scorers in his first away day, netting against Newcastle United in a five-goal thriller on Tyne and Wear. Despite those eye-catching stats, Ekitike was unable to help his new employers when they defeated Arsenal 1-0 on the final day of August. Thankfully, they didn't need him.
Having scored three goals in his first three games, it's safe to say Hugo is settled and happy playing in the red of Liverpool. He'll play an important role in his team's battle for two in a row, and I'm picking him to add another goal on Sunday. You can follow my pick and take Ekitike to score the first goal of the game at odds of 9/2, and that's much better than I expected to find when researching this match.
Tip: Ekitike first goal @ 9/2 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Ekitike breaks the deadlock on Sunday afternoon, you'll enjoy a winner at a great price.
Burnley v Liverpool odds
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The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.