Liverpool put on an impressive attacking show in their opening Premier League match of the season, against Arsenal, and now Jurgen Klopp's men will want more of the same when they face newly-promoted Burnley on Saturday.
While their defence remains suspect, Liverpool showed signs that they could be a real force going forward this season, against an Arsenal side, who look like they are going the opposite way. With Klopp making his own signings this summer and inculcating his style of play just that little bit more, Liverpool have no excuses not to perform.
Three points in the first game is a good start, and if Liverpool can make it six points in two, with a win at Turf Moor, a match that was rescheduled to Burnley's home ground owing to Anfield's redevelopment of the Main Stand, their campaign will, well and truly, be ready for takeoff.
"When the fixtures came out we knew the second matchday was Burnley, that's difficult enough," Klopp told reporters. "It would've been difficult enough if it was here, there are no easy games to play in this league.
"That we play [at Turf Moor] is not something we really think about. I know about the home record of Burnley – until the Swansea game they were unbeaten, so they are really strong and feel confident at home. That makes it not easy for us.
"But they are new in the league and if it had been for them the first away game at Anfield, that's a nice atmosphere and something you are looking forward to when you are promoted – that would've been difficult too. That we play now in Burnley, that we then play at Tottenham, it's nothing we can change so we don't think about it."
Burnley will certainly be thinking about coming up with a win in this match, after they went down to Swansea in their Premier League opener. Scoring goals, as it always is for promoted teams, is going to be the key, and if Sean Dyche can get his team playing in a manner where they find enough goals while staying compact at the back, this season's return to the Premier League will be a lot more successful than the last time around.
"Liverpool's cheapest player probably cost more than our record signing, but we feel we are a strong unit and a good side," Dyche said. "We are all watching the Olympics and the finest of things can make the difference between being a gold medallist or missing out.
"It's a similar thing in the Premier League, in terms of things being tight. We have to learn from that and move forward because we have another big challenge coming our way."
Team news: Burnley: New signing Steven Defour is expected to make his debut after the Belgium international joined the club from Anderlecht for a club record £8 million. Ashley Barnes remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while on-loan Liverpool fullback Jon Flanagan is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Liverpool: Klopp received a scare in training this week when new signing Sadio Mane, who scored the winner against Arsenal and has settled in quite well at Liverpool, picked up a shoulder injury and had to be taken to hospital. However, Klopp does not believe the injury is serious, even if Mane is a doubt for the Burnley match. James Milner and Daniel Sturridge are in full training and could feature, and while Lucas Leiva and Mamadou Sakho are recovering well, they are unlikely to be in the squad for this match.
Where to Watch Live
Burnley vs Liverpool is scheduled for a 7.30 p.m. IST (3 p.m. BST, 10 a.m. ET) start. TV and live streaming information for the match is below.
India: TV: Star Sports Select HD1. Live Streaming: Hotstar.
UK: TV: No Live coverage.
China: TV: LeTV, PPTV and QQ Sports.
Singapore: TV: 102mio.
Malaysia: TV: Astro SuperSport.
Australia: TV: SBS One and Optus Sport. Live Streaming: Optus Online.
USA: TV: USA Network and NBCSN. Live Streaming: NBC Sports Live.
Canada: TV: Sportsnet World. Live Streaming: Watch Sportsnet.
Middle East and Thailand: TV: Bein Sports. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
South Africa: TV: SuperSport3. Live Streaming: SuperSport Live.
