![\"Theo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Theo-Squires-podcast.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLiverpool analysis after the Premier League match against Burnley at Turf Moor<\/p>\n
Theo Squires was appointed Liverpool FC Writer for the Liverpool ECHO in 2021, after covering EURO 2020 at Wembley as England reached their first major men’s final since 1966. A senior football journalist, Theo joined the ECHO’s sports team from Bolton Wanderers in 2018, having previously spent four seasons in the former Premier League side’s communications team where he ran the club’s website and social media channels.
\nA regular in the Anfield press box since joining the ECHO, since being promoted to Liverpool FC Writer, Theo has reported on Jurgen Klopp’s side as they won the FA Cup and League Cup at Wembley, and competed in the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. A regular on the Blood Red podcast, Theo has also conducted a number of exclusive interviews during his time with the ECHO, speaking to the likes of Roger Hunt, Nicolas Anelka, and Alberto Aquilani. <\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GettyImages-2234817176.jpg\")
Milos Kerkez of Liverpool comes off during the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor on September 14, 2025 (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Arne Slot has never been scared of making difficult decisions. You only need to think back to his first game as Liverpool head coach when Jarell Quansah was hooked at half-time against Ipswich Town for proof of that.<\/p>\n
He would not even wait for the interval for his latest ruthless change. He had seen enough after 38 minutes <\/a>at Turf Moor with the already-booked Milos Kerkez this time the man hastily withdrawn.<\/p>\n In truth, the 21-year-old only had himself to blame. Cautioned in the 22nd minute for a cheap dive in the Burnley box, Liverpool<\/a> legend Jamie Carragher lambasted the full-back as \u2018absolutely stupid\u2019.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Liverpool know \u00a3450m transfer truth after Burnley frustration and Mohamed Salah heroics<\/a>READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings as Mohamed Salah keeps his cool but only one other excellent vs Burnley<\/a><\/p>\n Soon after he conceded a free-kick inside his own half when stopping a Burnley counter in its tracks. While there was never any threat of a second yellow card, Slot was well-aware of the disciplinary tight-rope the \u00a340m man was now walking and acted accordingly.<\/p>\n Andy Robertson was sent on in Kerkez\u2019s place, with the frustrated departee engaging in a brief exchange with his head coach before taking his place in the dugout. Were it not for his earlier dive, he would likely have still been on the field.<\/p>\n It has not been the easiest start for the Hungarian at Liverpool. He was withdrawn on the hour-mark on the opening day of the Premier League against AFC Bournemouth after being booked in the first half, with history then repeating itself at Burnley.<\/p>\n He was also at fault for Newcastle United\u2019s first goal in the Reds\u2019 3-2 victory next time out. And while it was a much-improved performance from the left-back in the 1-0 victory over Arsenal before the international break, this was not how he would have wanted to push on.<\/p>\n It would perhaps be little surprise if Robertson is now handed his first start of the season next time out against Atletico Madrid – ironically the side the Scot could have easily left the Reds for in the summer.<\/p>\n Speaking during the international break, he admitted he had had to make a decision about his future for the first time in his Liverpool career. But happy with the choice he made, he was confident opportunities were only around the corner.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we get back we have pretty much three games every week from the Sunday we get back until the next international break,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I\u2019m sure there will be a bit more rotation. Whether it happens in my position is yet to be seen, none of us can look into the future. But I believe I\u2019ve done everything I can to be in the manager\u2019s thoughts and that\u2019s all I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n He perhaps did not expect to proven right so swiftly. But with Kerkez taking his time to settle at Anfield, Liverpool can at least be thankful that the ever-reliable Robertson did decide to stay put.<\/p>\n Szoboszlai has to start<\/strong><\/p>\n Arne Slot might have had both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley to call upon against Burnley, but once again it was Dominik Szoboszlai who was given the nod at right-back.<\/p>\n While the natural full-backs are still feeling their way back after injury, it is a testament to how well the Hungarian has performed in their absence.<\/p>\n Yet his latest showing in defence lasted just one half as a knock suffered by Alexis Mac Allister saw him pushed forward at the interval.<\/p>\n The match-winner against Arsenal, Szoboszlai threatened to do so again against Burnley. His stinging piledriver from distance, tipped over by Martin Dubravka, was the closest the Reds had come to a goal before entering stoppage-time.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, when Liverpool won a late free-kick after Lesley Ugochukwu was sent off, the travelling supporters longed for a repeat of his Gunners heroics. Alas, this time he fired over the bar.<\/p>\n But with the Reds not at their best at Turf Moor, he was again one of their most impressive performers – continuing to offer the perfect response following a summer of hefty investment at Anfield.<\/p>\n Liverpool\u2019s midfield was the one area of the pitch that needed minimal reinforcement. Sure, Florian Wirtz was brought in in a deal worth up to \u00a3116m, but the rest of the Reds\u2019 focus came at either end of the field.<\/p>\n But the arrival of the German did result in a change of role for Szoboszlai, even if injuries continue to see Slot sidestep a midfield selection quandary.<\/p>\n While Frimpong and Bradley are now back from stints on the sidelines, that looks set to continue. Curtis Jones missed the trip to Burnley through injury while Mac Allister was forced off in part because of a heavy tackle from Ugochukwu.<\/p>\n Szoboszlai might have lost his position from Liverpool\u2019s title-winning campaign after the signing of Wirtz, but he remains a player Slot has to find a space for – no matter what the role.<\/p>\n Mo the man of the moment<\/strong><\/p>\n Mohamed Salah had missed his last two penalties for Liverpool, blazing over against both Athletic Bilbao and Crystal Palace in the space of a week last month.<\/p>\n But in the 95th minute, with victory on the line and the pressure at its highest, the Egyptian stepped up to be the Reds\u2019 hero once again.<\/p>\n In truth, it has not been a vintage start to the campaign for the forward. Sure, he has two goals and an assist to his name but this was once again a quiet display.<\/p>\n In contrast, he had three goals and three assists at the same point last season. Yet to rediscover the heights of last year\u2019s title-winning campaign, he is a casualty of Slot\u2019s new-look Reds side needing time to gel.<\/p>\n That is something he has referenced himself, saying he is still building connections with the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz after seeing Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz depart in the summer.<\/p>\n A winning goal was the perfect response to those questioning him here at least, but Liverpool will hope to see more from their Egyptian King in the weeks and months ahead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Liverpool analysis after the Premier League match against Burnley at Turf Moor Theo Squires was appointed Liverpool FC…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":425626,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4100],"tags":[94,763,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-425625","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-liverpool-fc","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115206976038226916","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=425625"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425625\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/425626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=425625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=425625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=425625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}