Chris Sutton has explained there’s one Liverpool player in particular who he can’t take his eyes off when watching him play.

Despite describing Darwin Nunez as ‘an all action guy’ and someone who ‘puts himself about’ – the former Premier League striker believes the Uruguayan’s finishing ‘isn’t good enough’, however.

The former Benfica forward was one of a number of Liverpool players to miss absolute sitters against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday as the Reds fell to a 1-0 defeat which further dented their title hopes.

Jurgen Klopp’s side now find themselves third in the league table, behind Arsenal on goal difference and two points adrift of current champions Manchester City, with six games to play.

“The player I’d single out is Darwin Nunez,” Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live (via Rousing The Kop). “You can’t take your eyes off him when he plays he is an all action guy. He puts himself about, he’s willing, players bounce off him. He’s so, so watchable but his finishing isn’t good enough.

“In moments like that, Liverpool have a ridiculous amount of points from losing positions. Their powers of recovery have been monumental, astonishing at times.

“But he had a golden opportunity against Palace, he has to score it. He doesn’t take it and that is the difference.”

READ MORE: ‘Why?’ – Paul Merson questions Jurgen Klopp decision during Liverpool’s defeat to Palace

Liverpool have earned a whopping 27 points from losing positions so far this term – the best in the top flight.

We can’t continue to fall behind in games however, and a slow start against Palace on Sunday cost us massively as we fell further behind in the Premier League title race.

Nunez’s numbers so far this term, 18 goals and 13 assists in 47 games (across all competitions), are impressive but the number of huge chances that he misses is a huge concern.

Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota also missed sitters at the weekend but it’s our No.9 who is doing so week in and week out and it’s starting to cost us.

His work rate and effort is second to none but if he and the rest of his teammates don’t find their shooting boots again in the coming weeks it could be a very disappointing end to the campaign.

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Jurgen Klopp is facing a significant dilemma regarding his team selection for Liverpool’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Atalanta, and the topic has divided opinion among pundits and journalists.

The Reds need something of a miracle to preserve their European campaign as they trail 3-0 from the first leg at Anfield, and Thursday night’s fixture in Bergamo is the first of four away matches in just 10 days as LFC also chase the Premier League title.

Momentum isn’t in our favour, having lost our two most recent games and gone three without a win for the first time all season, and debate has raged as to whether the manager should hold some key players in reserve for Sunday’s domestic clash at Fulham, given the improbability of us progressing in Europe.

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Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast (via Daily Mail), Chris Sutton said: “I think the nature of Jurgen Klopp, he’ll go strong. He has to because he might as well try and win everything, and being involved in so many competitions maybe has caught up with Liverpool. 

“The fact that they lost against [Crystal] Palace… had they beaten Palace, then maybe he could have thought along those lines of we’ll go for the Premier League because we’re still in command of that, but now he’s got to go for broke.”

However, Ian Ladyman thinks the incentive of a win at Craven Cottage ought to take priority, saying: “I would go reserves at Atalanta and then hope that his first team can make a statement performance away at Fulham next weekend, because you’ve got to realise [that] if they beat Fulham, they go ahead of [Manchester] City again.

“They go ahead of City. Psychologically, that could just give them a foothold.”

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You could make a case for both sides of the dilemma that Klopp is facing regarding his team selection for Thursday night.

On the one hand, he won’t want Liverpool to go out of Europe with a whimper, and he may be buoyed by their 5-0 win away to Atalanta when they last visited in November 2020. A repeat scoreline is highly unlikely but would see us advance to the semi-finals.

Conversely, the manager could deem it best to play the percentages and prioritise the Premier League, particularly as a win on Sunday could see us go top of the table for a couple of days at least.

Man City’s FA Cup fixture against Chelsea means they won’t be in top-flight action, so the Reds winning at Fulham would see us go above Pep Guardiola’s side, and potentially Arsenal too if they slip up away to Wolves on Saturday night.

Klopp has the relative luxury of nearly a full selection at his disposal, so he could reasonably make several alterations for both games without either starting XI necessarily being a ‘weak’ or second-string line-up.

Either way, we should expect most of the squad to feature in either or both of our next two fixtures, in the hope that those on the pitch can help us to a couple of wins and ensure that the recent blip doesn’t turn into a full-blown post-Easter malaise.

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Chris Sutton has claimed that Jurgen Klopp faces an ‘issue’ with one Liverpool player who’s ‘not been at his sharpest’ in recent weeks.

It comes as no surprise that Mo Salah is yet again top of the Reds’ scoring charts this season with 23 goals so far, although that hasn’t prevented him from coming under some scrutiny of late.

In his weekly Premier League predictions column for BBC Sport, the ex-Blackburn striker wrote: “One issue for Jurgen Klopp’s side is that Mohamed Salah has not been at his sharpest since he has come back from injury – he has been missing chances that you expect him to put away.”

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Since returning from injury in early March, Salah has netted four goals in eight games – not a drought by any means, but also perhaps not quite the ratio we’ve come to expect from a man who’s netted 209 times in 341 Liverpool appearances (Transfermarkt).

Sutton makes a valid point about the 31-year-old missing chances that he’d usually score – his skied effort on the rebound from an Andre Onana save in the second half at Old Trafford last Sunday springs to mind – and like the team as a whole, he was worryingly ineffective after coming on against Atalanta on Thursday.

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A meagre tally of seven completed passes in 45 minutes on the pitch summed up the Egyptian’s tepid outing (Sofascore), as well as LFC’s overall ineptitude on a horrible night at Anfield.

Salah hasn’t been at his best in recent weeks admittedly, but he’s one player who carries a sense of being able to score at any time, even if his general performance is subdued.

It must also be taken into account that he’s barely had any let-up until he got injured at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, and at least he’ll have this summer off to recharge the batteries.

In the meantime, he could still have an enormous effect on Liverpool’s season. You simply don’t keep a man of Mo Salah’s talents quiet for long.

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Chris Sutton has previewed Thursday’s clash between Liverpool and Sheffield United at Anfield and has explained what the Premier League title race could come down to.

With just nine games remaining Jurgen Klopp’s side lead the way, two points clear of Arsenal in second and three clear of Manchester City in third.

Sheffield United, who are eight points from safety at the bottom of the table, have won just three league games all season but have nothing to lose at L4 on Thursday.

Sutton believes it will be a comfortable victory for the Merseysiders against the Blades on Thursday and has suggested the game provides Liverpool with a good opportunity to boost their goal difference – a factor which could prove decisive at the end of the season.

“This is top versus bottom and Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah is going to be captaining my Fantasy team – that should tell you all you need to know about what I am expecting to happen here,” Sutton told BBC Sport.

“Against Brighton on Sunday, Liverpool did what they have done all season, which is finding a way to win even when they fall behind.

“This should be far more straightforward because Sheffield United do not have the quality to cause them the same problems the Seagulls did.

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“Liverpool cannot just expect to turn up and win easily though. The finish line is in sight but they need to put their foot down to get there first, and that is what I think will happen here.

“Looking at the table, goal difference could play a big part in the title race. Arsenal have the advantage there at the moment, but a big scoreline here could change that.”

Arsenal currently have the best goal difference in the league on 46 with us next best on 40.

Sheffield United, meanwhile, have conceded 77 goals in 29 games and require a miracle to retain their top flight status this year,

We’re of course huge favourites against Chris Wilder’s side but we need to ensure we’re at our best to get the job done and retain our spot at the top of the table.

Three points, rather than winning by a huge margin, is the main thing before we travel to Old Trafford for another huge game on Sunday.

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Chris Sutton simply couldn’t believe what he saw from one Liverpool player during the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

The Red were leading 3-2 in extra time when Darwin Nunez cheaply gave away possession 30 yards from goal with a slack pass, and his error was punished in the form of an equaliser from Marcus Rashford, with Amad Diallo then scoring a last-gasp winner for the home side.

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Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast, the ex-Blackburn striker was at a loss to try and comprehend just how the £140,000-per-week Uruguayan could’ve been so negligent at such a crucial juncture in the match.

Sutton said: “Darwin, we love him, but was he… the pass he was making for Rashford for when he eventually scored. I kept looking, thinking ‘What did he see there? Who has he trying to pass that to?’. I still don’t know. I don’t think he does.”

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We were probably all as shocked as Sutton when we saw Nunez making that costly sideways pass deep into extra time, and the 24-year-old would’ve known as soon as the goal went in that he’d made a grievous error.

In the white heat of battle, players can sometimes make misjudgments, especially when an additional 30 minutes are required in such a frenetic cup tie between two eternal rivals. Unfortunately for the Uruguayan, his lapse cost Liverpool dearly.

Knowing him, however, he’ll put that mistake behind him quickly and be chomping at the bit to atone for it in the Reds’ next match against Brighton on 31 March.

Nunez is nothing if not resilient, as seen by how he swiftly moves on from missed chances by demanding the ball immediately in search of a goal.

He’s been in fine scoring form recently, with six goals in his last seven games (Transfermarkt), and we’ve every faith in him adding to that tally when the Seagulls visit Anfield in 13 days time. That’d be the perfect response to his horrendous moment yesterday.

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Chris Sutton is in ‘no doubt’ as to who he thinks will come out on top in today’s FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester United and Liverpool.

The two eternal rivals clash at Old Trafford this afternoon vying for a place in the last four at Wembley, along with bragging rights for the next three weeks until they meet again in the Premier League.

Erik ten Hag’s side somehow escaped Anfield with a 0-0 draw in December, although they come up against an in-form Reds outfit with eight wins and a draw (against Manchester City) from their last nine games.

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Giving his weekend predictions to BBC Sport, Sutton is anticipating a 3-1 win for Liverpool, saying: “I know United fans might be getting excited about their 0-0 draw at Anfield earlier this season too – with what felt like about 2% possession.

“But Liverpool are getting key players like Mohamed Salah back to full fitness and if they turn up and perform like they did in the second half against Manchester City last weekend, then they are going to win – no doubt about it.

“There is some good news for United because their striker Rasmus Hojlund is going to be back from injury, and starting the game by all accounts. That is massive for them and gives them a far greater chance of getting through, but if Liverpool are anywhere near their best they will still have too much for them.”

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Given Liverpool’s rich vein of form, return of big players such as Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai from injury, and 17-point superiority over United in the Premier League table, we’ve every reason to head to Old Trafford with plenty of belief to keep the quadruple hunt going beyond Easter.

However, for all their inconsistencies this season, Ten Hag’s side have shown that they can raise their game on occasion, as well as displaying an annoying tendency to soak up pressure and find ways to win even when playing mediocre.

They’ve also rediscovered the Alex Ferguson-era knack of scoring decisive late goals, so Jurgen Klopp’s team will need to keep their concentration not just for 90 minutes, but every second of stoppage time also.

That said, if Liverpool play like they did in the second half against Man City and opening 15 minutes against the admittedly brittle Sparta Prague, it’d be hard for any team in world football to live with them.

Going to Old Trafford is a leveller, and United have shown they can get results against us under Ten Hag, but we agree with Sutton that LFC at their best ought to be too strong for today’s opponents.

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Chris Sutton has explained he can’t understand the fume surrounding the performance of referee Paul Tierney at the weekend.

The 43-year-old was the man in the middle as Liverpool defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground thanks to Darwin Nunez’s 99th minute winner but has received huge criticism for a controversial incident just two minutes before the Reds’ late winner.

Tierney stopped play while Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi was in possession of the ball on the left flank after Liverpool defender Ibou Konate remained grounded and holding his head following a collision inside the area.

When play resumed shortly after, the ball was handed to Caoimhin Kelleher instead of the hosts, but Sutton believes Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can’t blame the referee for their late loss.

“The whole attack on Paul Tierney, I think he left himself open to it and I’m not disputing that but the whole owner coming on the pitch and some of the forest coaches getting involved and the anger… I hope they showed the same type of anger towards those two Forest players who could have cleared the ball and they didn’t,” Sutton said on It’s All Kicking Off podcast (via The Boot Room). “So don’t blame Paul Tierney, a minute and 52 seconds after. Had they gone straight up and scored then maybe I’d have understood things a bit more than I am right now.”

READ MORE: ‘You just felt…’ – Chris Sutton praises Klopp over big decision he made v Forest on Saturday

We understand that the ball should’ve been handed to Forest at the restart but it’s worth nothing that the exact same thing happened to Liverpool in the first half and just shy of two minutes of play happened in between the restart and our late goal.

Santo’s side had numerous chances to clear the ball before our No.9 latched onto the end of Alexis Mac Allister’s pinpoint cross.

Tierney has not been appointed to referee a Premier League fixture this weekend but it remains unclear as to whether that is a result of what happened at the City Ground.

The official has been appointed as VAR for Brentford’s trip to the Emirates on Saturday, however.

Jurgen Klopp and the 42-year-old do not have the greatest of relationships with plenty of controversial incidents down the years but to see one go our way was a surprise!

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Chris Sutton has lauded one pivotal substitution by Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

With no sign of a breakthrough by the hour mark, Darwin Nunez was brought off the bench upon his return from a minor injury, and he went on to score the winning goal nine minutes into stoppage time.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, the pundit claimed that he had a sense the Uruguayan would change the game for the Reds when he was introduced.

Sutton said of the 24-year-old: “I can’t take my eyes off him when he plays. Liverpool were struggling at the weekend, then all of a sudden Nunez came off the bench. I’m not saying that I knew that they were going to win, but you just felt a change in the game.

“His physicality is phenomenal. He’s a real nuisance. He’s a handful and it’s fair to say people get frustrated with his finishing but some of his finishes this season have been excellent.

“Everyone misses opportunities and he can become cleaner with it, but he makes things happen and he makes others around him play better, and that’s the biggest thing.”

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Klopp’s impactful use of substitutions this season has been a big factor in Liverpool’s Premier League title charge, with 22 goal contributions in the top flight from Reds players brought off the bench.

Nunez was introduced to match-winning effect against Newcastle early in the campaign, when his late double turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory, and he proved decisive yet again at the City Ground on Saturday.

That four-point swing alone could make all the difference in the final reckoning, given how fiercely contested a title race we have this year, and Sutton has nailed it with his assessment of the Uruguayan.

The 24-year-old can be chaotic and lack composure at times, but his relentless energy and desire up top must be a nightmare for opposition defences to contain, and a haul of 14 goals for the season so far isn’t to be dismissed.

Nunez obviously won’t want to be typecast as a ‘super sub’ as he’d much rather be starting regularly, but either way Liverpool fans know full well that our number 9 possesses the game-changing quality which could possibly help his team make the all-important leap from contenders to champions.

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Chris Sutton has tipped Liverpool to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points with a win over Nottingham Forest tomorrow.

The Reds travel to the City Ground fresh off the back of their League Cup defeat of Chelsea at Wembley last week and Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat of Southampton in the FA Cup.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have been boosted by the return of Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai to training and the duo are in contention to feature tomorrow.

Although Forest have improved in an attacking sense since Nuno Espirito Santo replaced Steve Cooper in December, the east Midlands-based outfit are just four points clear of the drop zone and Sutton thinks they’ll suffer yet another defeat this weekend.

“There’s been lots of praise for Liverpool’s young players this week, and rightly so after the way they played in the Carabao Cup final and then beat Southampton in the FA Cup,” Sutton told BBC Sport.

“It’s been an excellent week for Jurgen Klopp, with the first trophy of the season under his belt and then seeing his side keeping alive the possibility of winning four of them this season.

“It would get even better if the likes of Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo are fit enough to play in this game, and I feel like Liverpool are going to be hard to stop here.

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“Forest were unlucky to go out of the FA Cup to Manchester United on Wednesday but they have got some work to do to get to safety in the league, especially with a possible points deduction looming, that could be announced next week.

“I keep hearing how Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are much-improved in an attacking sense. They may well have done, but it has not translated into results because they have only won once this year, and I don’t see them getting another one on Saturday.

“We are now into the run-in to the end of the season and Liverpool have already shown a great habit of finding a way to win games in recent weeks. They are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment so this one might be a bit more straightforward.

“Nottingham Forest 0-2 Liverpool.”

We suffered a 1-0 defeat in this same fixture last season in what was a proper lacklustre performance from Klopp’s side.

The return of Nunez and Szoboszlai seriously strengthens our squad and we’ll need to be at it right from the start to avoid Forest causing an upset tomorrow.

With Manchester City taking on Manchester United on Sunday and Arsenal travelling to Sheffield United on Monday night we have a great chance to extend our lead at the top to four points and put a bit of pressure on the sides below us.

Hopefully we can get the job done and keep up our positive momentum – even if the game does come too soon for Mo Salah.

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Chris Sutton has given his prediction for Liverpool’s FA Cup fifth round clash against Southampton at Anfield on Wednesday night, believing that Jurgen Klopp won’t want to let up in the pursuit of a potential quadruple in his final season at the club.

The Reds have already bagged one piece of domestic silverware after their Carabao Cup final triumph over Chelsea on Sunday, but an extensive injury list has complicated their task for the visit of the promotion-chasing Saints.

Despite LFC being deprived of numerous players and facing a hectic fixture schedule, though, the former Blackburn striker thinks that the home side will still have the quality and desire to get the job done against Russell Martin’s team.

In his FA Cup fifth round predictions for BBC Sport, Sutton went for a 3-1 Liverpool win, writing: “Southampton have hit a bit of a sticky patch but they are still going to play the same way, and be open and expansive. 

“They will give Liverpool room to play and the fact the game is at Anfield should help Jurgen Klopp’s side too, whether he goes with the kids again, like he did at Wembley, or not.

“We don’t know if any of the big guns will be back for Liverpool after missing the Carabao Cup final, but we know that, as a team, they are hungry for trophies. In fact, Klopp will be gluttonous, and want to win everything in his final season in charge of the Reds.

“Saints will be brave but Liverpool just love to press teams and are so good at it. That will probably be the difference.”

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Although the timing of this fixture amid an injury pile-up and an unrelenting fixture list mightn’t seem the most ideal for Liverpool, they could actually be taking on Southampton at an ideal moment.

The Saints had been on a club record 25-match unbeaten run until recently, but they’ve lost three of their four games since that unprecedented sequence ended, with Fabio Carvalho inflicting some of the damage by scoring for Hull in their 2-1 win at St Mary’s last week.

There’s also a possibility that Martin rotates his team in order to prioritise their push for automatic promotion from the Championship, with the FA Cup clash at Anfield something of a free swing for the south coast outfit.

Where Sutton is absolutely correct is in his belief that Klopp will be ravenous to sign off from Liverpool with as much silverware as possible this season, and the Reds showed yet again on Sunday that they can overcome adversity to get the job done thanks to their incredible mentality.

Southampton will be tricky opponents despite their recent rocky patch, but the home side should prevail if they play to their best tomorrow night.

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Chris Sutton has admitted he was tempted to back Chelsea to win Sunday’s League Cup final at Wembley following their decent performance against Manchester City recently but believes Liverpool will just about have too much for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The Reds are going to be without a number of key players for the trip to the national stadium, just as they were for last night’s 4-1 defeat of Luton Town at Anfield, and although Jurgen Klopp’s side thrashed Chelsea on Merseyside last month but Sutton is expecting a much tighter affair this time around.

Klopp and Co. are sweating on the fitness of Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez after the pair missed the clash with the Hatters but the former Premier League striker reckons Liverpool will pick up their 10th League Cup trophy on Sunday.

“I was at Anfield a few weeks ago, when Liverpool absolutely thrashed Chelsea 4-1. To say it was a demolition does not do it justice,” Sutton told BBC Sport.

“It was billed then as a dress rehearsal for this final and, when I was thinking about it afterwards, I just thought there is no way you would give the Blues any chance whatsoever based on what happened in that game.

“But then you see Chelsea hold Manchester City last weekend, when they almost held on at 1-0 and, with better finishing, had the chances to go further in front.

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“Meanwhile, with Liverpool, there are injury doubts over so many of their forwards, including Mohamed Salah. Is he fit, or not? We don’t know.

“Liverpool were woeful in the first half against Luton on Wednesday, then wonderful after the break. We will have to wait and see which Liverpool turn up, but the same can obviously be said about Chelsea.

“So, the question is whether I am going to end up being hoodwinked by that display against City, or whether the tide really is about to turn for Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino.

“I am not convinced that the latter is the case. As I said at the very start, I was tempted to go with Chelsea… but I have talked myself out of it.

“Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool after extra-time.”

We wiped the floor with Chelsea last month in what was arguably our best performance of the season so far.

Klopp and his players will be aware that Sunday’s game will be very different, however.

Pochettino’s side appear to have turned a corner in recent weeks and will fancy their chances with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota already ruled out through injury for Liverpool.

Last night’s second half performance was encouraging for the Reds, however, and a number of players will be representing the Reds at Anfield for the first time this weekend and will be eager to impress.

Let’s hope we can get the job done and return back to Merseyside with more silverware!

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Chris Sutton has backed Liverpool to record a 2-1 victory over Brentford this weekend to keep their title hopes alive.

The Merseysiders currently top the Premier League table by two points, though second-placed Manchester City have a game in hand on them.

“Brentford have scored three goals in each of their past two home games against Liverpool, and I can see them giving the Reds more problems this time too,” the pundit wrote in his predictions column with BBC Sport.

“Arsenal and Manchester City have both had to fight hard to get away wins against the Bees this season, and Jurgen Klopp’s side need to do the same to stay on top of the Premier League.

“It will not be easy for them, though. I was at Anfield for BBC Radio 5 Live last week to see Liverpool beat Burnley, but they weren’t very convincing in that game and I would give Brentford a real chance of taking at least a point here.

“Liverpool have been stretched by injuries recently and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s latest knee problem is another blow, but Joe Gomez can cover at right-back, plus Conor Bradley is back in training. Mohamed Salah is getting back to full fitness too and might even feature on Saturday.

“Salah’s return would be a huge boost and will increase Liverpool’s firepower, but their attack is very strong even without him and I think that is what will get them over the line here.

“I’m going with my heart over my head, really, because I would like to see a close title race and Liverpool need to keep winning to keep City at bay.”

The last two away trips to the Gtech Community Stadium has seen Jurgen Klopp’s men drop points on both occasions (loss and a draw).

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Liverpool can’t afford to slip up

In a way it’s almost freeing to know that Manchester City will steamroll their way through the vast majority of opponents that come their way.

Liverpool simply have to win the winnable games. As tough a place as Brentford is to go – this is considered a “winnable” fixture.

This looks to be one of the tightest title races on record. Especially so with Mikel Arteta’s high-flying Arsenal in the mix.

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Liverpool welcome Burnley to Anfield tomorrow looking to get back to winning ways after last week’s dismal defeat to Arsenal.

Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled massively at the Emirates and didn’t once have control of the game and by the time we kick off against the Clarets tomorrow we could find ourselves in second place – a point behind Manchester City if they defeat Everton in the early game.

A much improved performance is required at Anfield tomorrow but the Reds will again be without Dominik Szoboszlai who has been ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes that’s a ‘blow’ for the Merseysiders but still can’t see Burnley getting anything from their trip to L4.

“I was surprised by how poor Liverpool were against Arsenal, because I’d covered their game against Chelsea a few days earlier when they were absolutely flying,” Sutton told BBC Sport.

“Reds midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is out for a month, which is a blow for Jurgen Klopp’s side but, even so, I still cannot make a case for a Burnley win – I’ve thought they were going to be relegated for a long time.

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“Liverpool cannot afford to slip up, and I don’t think they will. They know what is at stake with Jurgen Klopp leaving at the end of the season.

“I don’t know if Darwin Nunez will be fit enough to start but even if he isn’t I am expecting Liverpool to overwhelm Burnley.

“Goalkeeper James Trafford did really well to keep the Clarets in the game at Turf Moor in December but Liverpool should wrap up the points a lot earlier, and much easier, this time.

“Liverpool 4-0 Burnley.”

Szoboszlai revitalised our midfield during the early weeks of the campaign following his £60m move from RB Leipzig in the summer.

His incredible range of passing, quality shooting ability and endless work rate means he’s already a huge favourite amongst the Anfield faithful and his latest injury is a concern.

His form may have dipped in recent months but he’s a definite starter when fit and available.

Our midfield was poor against Arsenal with Alexis Mac Allister left to do the job of three players on his own at times.

Ryan Gravenberch left Klopp raging on the sideline after he failed to track his man while Curtis Jones often influences the game in an attacking sense.

Thiago Alcantara has also picked up another muscle injury and there are fears that our No.6 will not play for the club again.

Despite a few injury concerns let’s hope we have enough to defeat Burnley and remain top of the league for another week at least.

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Chris Sutton has given his prediction for the huge Premier League showdown between Arsenal and Liverpool on Sunday, and he reckons there’ll be a decisive result.

The Reds go into the game with a five-point lead at the summit, so victory for them at the Emirates Stadium could leave the Gunners with a very tall order to claw back the gap in the title race. Conversely, a home win would represent a big statement from Mikel Arteta’s side.

It’s a fixture which could polarise opinion among punters placing bets with online casinos and bookmakers, and the former Blackburn striker is expecting a closely-fought contest in north London tomorrow.

In his Premier League predictions for BBC Sport, Sutton wrote: “We’ve already seen how close it is between these two sides when they’ve met before this season, and the Gunners missed a load of chances when Liverpool came to the Emirates and won in the FA Cup last month.

“Mikel Arteta’s side still don’t have a centre-forward but, this time, I think they will finish some of the opportunities they create.

“I’m still not entirely sure why I am going with Arsenal to win this game, because Liverpool will score too, but the Gunners definitely need the points more and I think they will just about do enough to get them. 2-1.”

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Liverpool have posted some emphatic wins over Arsenal during Jurgen Klopp’s reign, but their contests have been much closer affairs over the past couple of years, with two draws and a 3-2 Gunners win in their three previous Premier League meetings.

The Reds struck a psychological blow at the Emirates last month with victory in the FA Cup as the home side paid the price for their profligacy that evening, and we’ve been in imperious form since the 1-1 draw against Mikel Arteta’s side just before Christmas.

However, the north Londoners have got their title ambitions back on track after a slump during the festive/New Year period, and as Sutton said, they badly need a result tomorrow to ensure they don’t disappear in LFC’s rear view mirror.

A draw away to a title rival when Liverpool already have a five-point lead at the Premier League summit would be a decent result on the face of it, but we’ve seen in previous years how Manchester City rattle off a succession of wins in the second half of the season.

Klopp has acknowledged that publicly, and you can be sure that he won’t be content with merely picking up a point on Sunday.

We’ll disagree with Sutton in that we fancy the Reds to take a result back to Merseyside, but we also expect it to be a very close contest.

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Chris Sutton has explained what was ‘interesting’ about the starting XI Jurgen Klopp selected for Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea last night.

The German tactician can be proud of his players after they earned a 4-1 victory over the Blues with Conor Bradley named man of the match as he registered a goal and two assists at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Joe Gomez also deserve mentions for their superb showings with the victory ensuring Liverpool remain five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson were back in the match day squad but had to settle for spots on the bench – a decision which will send a ‘message’ to the pair according to former Premier League striker Sutton.

“I tell you what I thought was interesting last night was that Jurgen Klopp had Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson on the bench,” Sutton told It’s All Kicking Off Podcast (via Rousing The Kop). “They have been his go to full-backs for years and years and they have been excellent but I think it was a great message which he actually sent out to them and the rest of the team that Conor Bradley has played superbly well and so has Joe Gomez.

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“The fact he has kept those players in, they have the jersey at this moment in time and it’s a message to Trent and Andy Robertson you are going to have to work your way back in the team.

“I actually think it will be the same at the weekend and Conor Bradley is undroppable at this moment in time. Then you are in that debate of whether Trent should play in midfield but last night the balance of the team and how hard they worked and got up to the ball, they were phenomenal the way they pressed. So Trent is going to have to bide his time a bit.”

With the way the team are playing, both individually and collectively, it’ll be hard to make any changes to the side for our trip to Arsenal on Sunday.

Fatigue and niggles could result in our German tactician making some changes to the side but Bradley’s spot in the side should be safe – even if Alexander-Arnold is recognised as one of the best players in the world.

Our No. 66 could potentially come into the starting XI in a midfield role but we’ll just have to wait and see what decision the former Borussia Dortmund boss makes.

He got his team selection spot on against Chelsea last night – let’s hope he can do again in the capital this weekend in what is another huge game.

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