Statistically it is feasible for Burnley to climb out of relegation territory but with an away game against Liverpool this weekend, followed by a home game with Birmingham City next weekend and finally away to Spurs for their last match of the season, it would seem unlikely that Burnley will be contesting Premier League football next season.
Mired in 19th, a point behind Hull and four behind West Ham, the Clarets would need a miracle to survive.
As might be expected from a club so low in the table, speculation of clubhouse discontent has surfaced, and last week the club went so far as to suspend Icelandic midfielder Joey Gudjonsson for speaking out publicly regarding what he claims is the players’ dissatisfaction with manager Brian Laws.
Burnley haven’t beaten Liverpool in a league game since 1974, although they did manage a 1-0 FA Cup win over the Reds in 2005. Still, given the season they’ve had this year it’s hard to imagine the Clarets taking three points from Liverpool this weekend.
Liverpool will visit Burnley this weekend without striker Fernando Torres. The Spaniard’s bothersome knee underwent surgery last week and as a result El Niño is lost to Liverpool for the remainder of the season. It’s a development that the Reds can ill afford as they struggle to remain in contention for silverware in Europe and for a fourth place finish in the Premier League.
A 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid on Thursday in their Europa League Semi-Final first leg will be cause for concern as it threatens Liverpool’s only remaining opportunity for glory.
However, a 3-0 victory over West Ham at Anfield on Monday ensured that the Reds’ Premier League season isn’t a completely lost cause quite yet.
But sitting seventh in the league now with just three games remaining, and currently trailing Tottenham by five points, Liverpool’s fourth place ambition is nothing if not ambitious.
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