Sean Dyche believes Liverpool are back to their brilliant best, as evidenced by last night’s 3-0 trouncing of his Burnley side, speaking to the Clarets website.
Three months ago, Jurgen Klopp’s once-rampant Reds lost for the first time in 68 Premier League games at Anfield when an 83rd minute Ashley Barnes penalty stunned English football.
At the time, Liverpool were enduring perhaps the lowest ebb of the Klopp era, banging their heads repeatedly on Burnley’s brick wall as the rock-solid Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and Nick Pope left the champions in disarray.
Flash forward to mid-May, however, and a midweek clash against the same opposition served to highlight how far Liverpool have come since their post-Christmas blues.
Burnley had their chances at Turf Moor – with the in-form Chris Wood wasting one glorious opportunity – but while Liverpool were wasteful in January, they were ruthless last night.
Roberto Firmino, Nat Phillips and a rasping Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain effort lifted the Merseyside giants into the Champions League places at Leicester City’s expense, with just one match day remaining.
And Dyche believes Liverpool’s two performances against Burnley this season were like night and day.
“We had big moments and if you don’t take them against sides like this, you’ll come undone,” Dyche, who has been linked once more with the Crystal Palace post, explains.
“Liverpool are back purring. They aren’t having an indifferent period, like they were when we beat them at their place.
“Now they are back purring and finding clinical moments. They had three shots on target and scored all three. That shows you a sign of being clinical.”
A few weeks ago, Liverpool looked destined for a season of Thursday night football, those dreaded 6pm Europa League trips to the furthest reaches of the continent.
But thanks to a stunning run of seven wins in nine games – including convincing triumphs over Arsenal and Manchester United – Klopp’s rejuvenated side have their destiny in their own hands heading into Sunday’s showdown.
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