Football isn't always fair. If you watched the last time Burnley F.C. vs Liverpool F.C. shared a pitch back in September, you know exactly what I mean. Burnley played their hearts out. They defended like their lives depended on it. Then, 95 minutes in, Mohamed Salah steps up to a penalty spot and ruins the script.
It was brutal for the Clarets. Truly.
Now, as we stare down the barrel of their 2026 rematch at Anfield, there's a weird tension in the air. On paper, it looks like a mismatch. Liverpool is sitting comfortably in the top four, while Scott Parker’s Burnley is fighting a desperate war against relegation. But if you’ve followed this fixture over the years, you know Burnley has this annoying habit of making Liverpool look very, very ordinary.
The Mental Block: Why Liverpool Struggles with the "Low Block"
Let’s be real for a second. Liverpool is a Ferrari. They want to go 100 mph, transition in seconds, and leave you dizzy. Burnley? They are a brick wall. Under Scott Parker, they’ve found a way to be incredibly annoying to play against.
Stats from this 2025/26 season show that Liverpool spends about 25% of their matches trying to figure out "low blocks." That’s basically football speak for a team parking a literal bus in front of the goal. It’s their biggest weakness. Honestly, the Reds have drawn with Leeds and Fulham recently because they just couldn't find the key to the lock.
Burnley knows this.
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Maxime Esteve has been a giant at the back for them, even if he’s had some shaky moments recently (those two own goals at the Etihad were a nightmare, poor guy). If Burnley can keep the middle of the pitch congested, Liverpool’s stars like Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai start to get frustrated. When Liverpool gets frustrated, they start taking "hopeful" long shots. That is exactly what Burnley wants.
The "Anfield Factor" and Recent Form
Coming into this January 2026 clash, the vibes at Anfield are... mixed.
Liverpool is on an 11-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, which sounds amazing until you realize three of their last four Premier League games were draws. They are missing Conor Bradley, who just had knee surgery and is out for the season. That’s a huge blow to their depth.
On the flip side, Burnley just thrashed Millwall 5-1 in the FA Cup. It was a goal-fest they desperately needed. Before that, they hadn't won a league game in 12 tries. Think about that. Since October 1970, the club hasn't seen a winless streak this bad. Ironically, that 1970 streak ended with a trip to—you guessed it—Anfield.
History repeats itself in weird ways.
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Key Matchup: Zian Flemming vs. Virgil van Dijk
If Burnley is going to get anything out of this, it rests on Zian Flemming. He isn't even a natural striker—he's more of a number 10—but he’s their top scorer with five goals. He’s clever. He finds pockets of space that shouldn't exist.
Van Dijk is still Van Dijk, of course. But even the best defenders struggle with players who don't play like traditional strikers. If Flemming can drag Van Dijk out of position, it opens the door for Jaidon Anthony to cause chaos on the wings.
Head-to-Head: A Century of Grudge Matches
We tend to think of Liverpool as the dominant force, but this rivalry goes back to 1894. Did you know Burnley actually beat Liverpool in the 1914 FA Cup Final? It’s their only win in that competition, and they did it by taking down five top-tier sides in one go.
- Total Meetings: 130
- Liverpool Wins: 62
- Burnley Wins: 38
- Draws: 29
While Liverpool has won the last six meetings, five of those were clean sheets. That suggests Burnley doesn't just lose; they struggle to even lay a glove on the Reds. However, that 1-0 Burnley win at Anfield in 2021 still haunts the older Liverpool fans. It ended a 68-game unbeaten home run.
Lightning can strike twice.
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What to Expect in the 2026 Clash
So, what actually happens when Burnley F.C. vs Liverpool F.C. kicks off this weekend?
Expect Liverpool to have about 70% of the ball. They’ll pass it sideways. They’ll look for Florian Wirtz to create some magic. If Burnley holds out for the first 30 minutes, the Anfield crowd will get quiet. That’s when the "pucker factor" starts for the home team.
Burnley’s biggest issue is the late collapse. They conceded a 90th-minute penalty against United and a 95th-minute penalty against Liverpool earlier this season. They have the stamina of a marathon runner for 80 minutes, but the final 10? They look gassed.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're watching this or, let's be honest, putting a cheeky flutter on it, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the 76th Minute: Liverpool has scored 12 goals this season after the 75th minute. They are the kings of late drama. If it's 0-0 at 80 minutes, don't look away.
- The "New" Guys: Keep an eye on Hugo Ekitike. He’s been finding his feet in Slot’s system and scored a tap-in against Barnsley recently. He might be the one to break the deadlock if Salah is doubled up on.
- Burnley’s Set Pieces: Burnley is actually decent at defending set pieces but "very weak" at defending long shots. If Szoboszlai gets space 25 yards out, Burnley is in deep trouble.
- The Injury List: Liverpool is thin at the back. No Bradley means more pressure on the veteran starters. If Parker is smart, he’ll tell his wingers to run at the full-backs all day long.
The reality is that Burnley needs a miracle. They are eight points adrift of safety. But football is a game of moments. One slipped tackle, one VAR decision, or one moment of brilliance from Zian Flemming, and the entire Premier League table gets flipped on its head.
Check the confirmed starting lineups about an hour before kickoff. If Arne Slot rotates too heavily for the Champions League, Burnley might just find the opening they’ve been praying for since October.