Balotelli Could Figure For Liverpool

TEAM NEWS Burnley forward Sam Vokes is in line for his first appearance since March after a cruciate knee ligament injury. Matt Taylor could also be involved following an Achilles problem but Michael Duff and Stephen Ward are set to miss out. Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli returns from suspension to take a place on the bench. Fellow forward Fabio Borini is suspended and Joe Allen will miss out with a knee injury. MATCH PREVIEW If you were compiling a Christmas report, it would make for better reading from a Burnley point of view than their Boxing Day opponents. Most had tipped the Clarets to be cut adrift at the bottom by now, while Liverpool certainly don't enter the festive fixtures in the position they expected to be in. Brendan Rogers has rightly taken confidence from his team's last two performances against Bournemouth and Arsenal, but they are small steps. Lawro's prediction "With Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho pressing, and Raheem Sterling playing through the middle, there is now a nice balance to Liverpool's team. I just hope Brendan Rodgers does not make a raft of changes for their first game of the festive period. He does not want to risk losing this bit of momentum now." Predictions: Lawro v Guy Mowbray Liverpool still have a lack of killer instinct at one end of the pitch, and a lack of resilience at the other. Both will need to improve in the second half of the season if they are to get close to their targets. The win in the League Cup at Bournemouth and the performance against Arsenal will have helped the confidence and self-belief in the short term. Seven league defeats already, and only two wins from their last nine matches, isn't the form that was anticipated. It is incredible what a difference a year makes. On Boxing Day last year, I watched Liverpool at Manchester City as genuine title contenders and, significantly, they had scored twice as many goals as this season's tally after 17 matches. Daniel Sturridge's return can't come quickly enough. Like Liverpool, Burnley will have concerns on the goalscoring front. Their goals, or lack of them, could well determine whether they defy the odds and survive. Twelve goals from 17 games is the current total and that ratio won't be enough in the remaining 21 matches. While they have Danny Ings fit, they have a chance. He has a third of that total and I was really impressed with his overall contribution in their last home game when they beat Southampton. They kept their fifth clean sheet of the season in that match, but they can't keep relying on a defensive foundation to find the wins required. Brendan Rogers thinks his team can still secure a top-four finish, this is the type of game Liverpool have to win to maintain those aspirations. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Both of their previous Premier League meetings in the 2009-10 season ended 4-0 to Liverpool. The latter of those defeats relegated Burnley on 25 April 2010 but it was only Liverpool's second victory at Turf Moor in 10 attempts in all competitions. Burnley have won 18 of their 38 home league clashes with Liverpool (D9, L11). Burnley Burnley have only lost twice in seven league matches (W3, D2, L2). They have won just one of their eight games against top-half opposition this season. Burnley's tally of seven home goals this season is the fewest in the Premier League. The Clarets are unbeaten in four league games at home (W2, D2). Danny Ings (four goals, two assists) has been involved in half of Burnley's league goals this season. Only QPR's Charlie Austin (65%) has been involved in a larger share. Liverpool Liverpool and Burnley have an identical record from their last six league games (W2, D2, L2). Liverpool have 22 points - no side with 22 points after 17 games has ever finished higher than sixth in the Premier League. The Reds are in their lowest position on Christmas Day since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93 (also 10th). After 17 games last season, the Reds topped the table with 36 points and had already scored 42 goals - twice this season's tally. Mario Balotelli has only scored one more goal (20) than he has received yellow or red cards in his Premier League career. Source:bbc