Liverpool dream line-up vs Burnley as Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike decisions made

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as the Reds prepare to face Burnley in their return to Premier League action this weekend

Mark has been a football journalist since 2017 and has contributed to several publications including the Liverpool Echo, Manchester Evening News and football.london. He also spent eight months on the US Sports team for the Mirror US

Alexander Isak

Liverpool now have less than a week to go before their Premier League title defence continues. The Reds face Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday as they look to see their 100 percent record continue into a fourth gameweek.

Arne Slot and Co. have already been forced to battle until the 90th minute in each of their three wins so far this season against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Arsenal. Liverpool will be hoping that changes when they face the Clarets on Sunday, with a more comfortable afternoon for the reigning champions.

Slot will have had two weeks to prepare for the clash against Burnley by the time the game rolls around. And with those preparations, decisions will have to be made on team selection for the trip to Turf Moor.

Liverpool will also have to be mindful of a Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid a few days later that will need a first-choice line-up available. Once every player returns from international duty, some important decisions will have to be made.

One will involve how many minutes to give Alexander Isak following his £125million deadline day move from Newcastle United. Isak is yet to play any club football this term or have any pre-season minutes under his belt, but Liverpool will be hoping their club-record signing will be available to start as soon as possible.

That will, in turn, force a decision to be made in the forward line. If Isak is fit enough to start, one of Cody Gakpo or Hugo Ekitike would need to drop to the bench, which is certainly a headache for Slot going into the weekend.

In defence, Slot will also have a decision on who to start at right-back. Dominik Szoboszlai has certainly impressed in the role in the last two games, but Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong could both be fit and available to start against Burnley.

If Szoboszlai is not selected at right-back, Slot may still want to use the Hungary international in his favoured midfield role. That would then likely force Slot to select a midfield pair out of Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo. Florian Wirtz will be expected to continue in the No.10 role going forward.

Liverpool dream line-up vs Burnley (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike; Isak