Mark Lawrenson backs Burnley to 'make things difficult' for Liverpool and reveals scoreline prediction

Writing his midweek predictions column for BBC Sport, pundit Mark Lawrenson backed a narrow 2-1 win for the Reds.

Justifying his prediction, the ex-Liverpool man claimed: "Burnley were playing pretty well at the turn of the year but they have just lost two on the spin against Manchester United and West Ham and it is hard to see them getting anything at Anfield either.

"They will make things difficult for Liverpool at both ends, of course - I remember Sheffield United putting a lot of balls into the box when they came to Anfield in October, in the first league game after Virgil van Dijk was injured, and I suspect the Clarets will do the same to test out any defensive weaknesses.

"Sean Dyche's side will dig in and make it hard for the Reds to play through them too."

Lawro continued: "People have started to notice now that the Liverpool front three has lost its spark but that is related to what is happening behind them. Yes,

Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have done well to fill in at centre-back, but they have been badly missed in midfield and that has not helped the front three.

"I still don't think Liverpool are playing that badly, though. They have just gone four league games without a win for the first time since February 2017, but I don't see that run reaching five."

The last time the two sides met, back in July, the Clarets secured a shock 1-1 draw at Anfield, thanks to Jay Rodriguez's second-half equaliser.