Sunday 12 March 2017 15:24, UK
Who will win the battle between Roberto Firmino and Michael Keane when Liverpool take on Burnley on Nissan Super Sunday ? We check the stats...
Burnley, still without an away league win this season, travel to Liverpool on Super Sunday. The Reds will be wanting revenge following their surprise 2-0 defeat at Turf Moor back in August and another three points as they aim for a top four finish.
The home side's key man in this fixture will be Roberto Firmino.
The 25-year-old Brazilian forward has scored nine goals in 26 Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season and only Sadio Mane (12) has scored more for Jurgen Klopp's side.
He is particularly dangerous at Anfield with seven of his Premier League goals and all four of his assists this season coming in home games including a goal and an assist in last weekend's 3-1 win against Arsenal.
'Bobby' is undoubtedly a favourite of Klopp but with reason. He has made the joint-most Premier League appearances with Nathaniel Clyne (51) since the German took charge in October 2015 and has merited his place by creating the most chances (97), having the most shots on target (57) and scoring the most goals (19) of any Liverpool player in that time.
That alone is not enough for his manager and Klopp will have been equally impressed that Firmino also leads the way in terms of tackles won by forwards in that time (76) and, this season, he leads the way in the Premier League for the number of sprints made (1,973).
He undoubtedly provides the impetus for Liverpool's performances and will be a player that Burnley manager Sean Dyche is very wary of.
On Monday Night Football this week, Frank Lampard revealed his Premier League team of the season and the inclusion of Diego Costa, Harry Kane, Eden Hazard and Dele Alli came as no surprise.
However, eyebrows may well have been raised at the inclusion of Burnley's Michael Keane at centre-back.
The former Manchester United youth player, who earned an England squad call-up for the October internationals against Malta and Slovenia, will need to be on top of his game on Sunday if he is to keep Firmino quiet.
The 24-year-old has started all 27 Premier League games for Burnley this season, helping them keep six clean sheets and amass 31 points as they sit comfortably in mid-table.
The 6ft 3in centre-back is willing to put his body on the line for the cause and has blocked 33 shots this season, a total that only Hull's Curtis Davies can better while also heading clear the danger on 141 occasions, a number only exceeded by Bournemouth's Steve Cook.
Indeed, he has won more aerial duels (110) than any other Premier League defender this season.
While it's unlikely that it'll be those defensive skills that are required on Sunday, it shows that Burnley's stand-out defender is willing to do what it takes to stop the opposition.
The attributes that are more likely to be tested by Firmino are Keane's positioning, his ability to read the game and his tackling but this will hold no fear for the former England U21 player who has made the third most interceptions for his team (49) and won 17 of his 20 tackles this season whilst conceding just 11 fouls.
It is that timing and precision that Keane will need against the trickery of Firmino if he is to nullify Liverpool's 'Bobby Dazzler'.
