The task for Manchester City is simple; win their last three matches against; Burnley away, Leicester City at home, Brighton away, and the Premier League title will be staying in their trophy cabinet but Burnley boss Sean Dyche has other ideas.
The last traces of optimism on Merseyside seemed to go up in a ball of smoke as City leapfrogged Liverpool back into top spot by winning the Manchester derby during the week.
However, Red Liverpudlians may take some hope from comments made on Friday by Clarets manager Sean Dyche who believes that his side are good enough to succeed where Manchester United failed and derail City’s title procession.
"Yea we've been close with a lot of the big sides,” Dyche stated at his pre-match press conference.
“Since Christmas we beat Tottenham at home which is a big result and a big performance. We got a point the other night at Chelsea. We had to work ever so hard for it. We got a point at Manchester United which could have easily been three. Still not sure where five minutes (added time) came from.
"We have applied ourselves in all games but particularly, everyone knows, from the turn we have been in all games. They [City] are a top side. I say every time we play the top sides, just because it's a fact as I see it, you have to be on top of your performance levels. You can't shortcut performances against the best. You need the off bit of luck to go your way. You might need a decision to go your way.
Sean Dyche points to recent home record against Man City
Burnley have earned a win and a draw in the last three games at Turf Moor against the reigning champions and Dyche believes that the fact there is no pressure on his team will be a positive heading into Sunday’s clash.
"They have got the demand that is right in front of them and that is to go and win the title. We've got a different demand which is to play well and see the season out in a proper fashion and that can be a weapon because...you can't call it being relaxed. You can't relax against teams like this, that's quite obvious. You can't relax anywhere in the Premier League!
"But I think there's just that little tiny bit of freedom that you can think well, it is about them, the game is about them, there's no two ways about it. But it's not from us, it's not from us inside of our camp, we want to take on the game. We want to win a game.
"We want to prove that we can at least challenge the elite end of the market. And never more so than this season because the top six are miles in front, as I did say early season I felt they would be, they are miles in front this season. Big challenge but one that we definitely look to take on and one we're looking forward to taking on. And particularly in front of our home fans."
"You have to defend well! You have to defend well because the stats show home and away all season, they have more possession, they have more productive possession. They’re in the final third more often, etcetera, etcetera. So you have to defend well as a team.
“I think we can, I think we have done, especially since the turn. It’s been a lot better since the turn, game 19. You have to do that.
“You have to take your chances because you don’t always get that many. We showed that at Chelsea the other night. We took two good chances. We had a third very good chance actually but you don’t get that many chances against the elite end of the market.
“You have to bring that together with a strong performance and make it all work but defending well is a given against the top sides, I think.”
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