Liverpool team vs Burnley confirmed as Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai decisions made

Liverpool starting XI vs Burnley in the Premier League as Arne Slot makes decisions on Hugo Ekitike and Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of what will be another low block at Anfield

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike.(Image: MB Media/Getty Images)

Hugo Ekitike starts for Liverpool for the first time since January 1 as Arne Slot's side takes on Burnley in the Premier League, looking to consolidate its position inside the top four.

Alisson Becker is in goal with the Brazilian having a back four in front of him that contains Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez. Conor Bradley is set to be out for the remainder of the season with the injury he sustained at Arsenal.

In midfield, Liverpool has Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones. Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo are behind Ekitike, with Alexis Mac Allister, Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha the options to come off the bench.

"Today's game comes on the back of a run of form that has allowed us to stabilize after a difficult period, but at the same time we are very much aware that there are levels that we still need to reach," Slot writes in the official matchday program.

"This was again clear in our most recent game at home to Barnsley. The result was good and we scored four excellent goals.

"We were very happy to reach the next round of the FA Cup, but we cannot and will not ignore those areas of our performance that we need to improve.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)

"Key to this is finding ways to ensure that the amount of possession we have is matched by the number of chances we are able to create.

"That is one of the main challenges that English football brings right now, and it is one which we encountered against today's opponents in the opening weeks of this season.

"In many ways, that game was a sign of things to come. Burnley were very effective in terms of denying us space and opportunities, so we found it difficult to break them down, having to wait until deep into stoppage time for the winning goal to arrive from a penalty.

"Becoming better at dealing with this kind of challenge is crucial because it is not going anywhere any time soon. So, we need to be completely ready, not just today but in all of our games because this is the only way to build on the progress that we have made."

"Momentum is a big thing in football, and it is important that we continue to build on our recent results when we take on Burnley on Saturday afternoon," Van Dijk adds in his captain's column.

"To be 11 games unbeaten in all competitions, especially given where we were at a couple of months ago, we have to take as a positive, and there have definitely been signs that we are moving in the right direction in terms of our performance levels.

"But nobody here is under any illusions. Even during this run, we have seen the areas we need to improve going forward. We have conceded late goals, we have allowed teams back into games when we should have taken control, and we have not always managed to maintain our levels for 90-plus minutes."

Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike. Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Robertson, Ramsay, Endo, Mac Allister, Nyoni, Chiesa, Ngumoha.

Burnley starting XI: Dubravka; Walker, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Humphreys, Pires; Edwards, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Anthony; Broja. Subs: Mejbri, Foster, Weiss, Ekdal, Hartman, Barnes, Bruun Larsen, Tchaouna, Laurent.