A fresh foe and familiar faces: LFC's history with Premier League's new teams

Jürgen Klopp is very familiar with Championship winners Burnley, as they were in the Premier League between 2016-17 and 2021-22.

The Reds’ boss has also tackled runners-up Sheffield United four times, but play-off winners Luton Town will be a new experience. Overall, Liverpool have certainly enjoyed some memorable matches with the Hatters in the past, though.

Here’s a closer look at the club’s relationship with all three new additions to the top flight...

Burnley

The previous meeting between Liverpool and Burnley took place at Turf Moor in February 2022 and holds a place in Klopp history.

It was the final match in which the Reds started with their legendary front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, though it was Fabinho who scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.

Squad turnover at Burnley following their relegation means only three of their players who started that day contributed in the Championship this season. Liverpool supporters will certainly be familiar with their manager, though, as he is former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany.

The Reds faced Burnley 12 times during their last stint in the top flight, winning eight, drawing twice and losing on two occasions. The Clarets ended Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten home run in the league in a behind-closed-doors match at Anfield in January 2021, though the Reds gained revenge with victories in the next three clashes.

There has been no transfer deal between the clubs since 1962 but recent players to represent both sides include Danny Ings, who switched to Anfield as a free agent in 2015 after leaving Burnley, and Peter Crouch.

Sheffield United

Liverpool will have fond memories of taking on Sheffield United from their relatively recent two-season spell in the Premier League.

The Reds won all four meetings, which included victories in 2019-20 when the league title returned to the club for the first time in 30 years. Georginio Wijnaldum bagged the winner at Bramall Lane that season, before goals from Salah and Mane secured a 2-0 victory in the return fixture.

The Blades earned 91 points on their way to promotion this season and Paul Heckingbottom’s squad contained a couple of familiar faces for Liverpool supporters.

Defender Jack Robinson started his career with the Reds, making 11 appearances between 2010 and 2013. He made his debut in Rafael Benitez’s final match in charge and was the youngest player in club history at that point.

Though he has since been superseded by Harvey Elliott and Jerome Sinclair in cup competitions, Robinson retains the Liverpool record for youngest in league football.

Another Blade with whom fans will be familiar is Rhian Brewster. His four games for Liverpool included some very memorable matches.

Brewster started the remarkable 5-5 draw with Arsenal in the League Cup in 2019, then was a substitute when a youthful Klopp side knocked Everton out of the FA Cup three months later.

Luton Town

Luton won the Championship play-off final on penalties, defeating Coventry City following a 1-1 draw at Wembley. It has been an incredible rise for a club who were playing non-league football as recently as 2014.

They were last in the top flight in the final season of the old First Division, 1991-92. Liverpool have faced them three times since, all in the FA Cup.

By far the most memorable was a 5-3 victory in the third round in 2006, a year in which the Reds went on to lift the trophy.

Liverpool took the lead through a fine goal from Steven Gerrard but later found themselves 3-1 down. Their own comeback was crowned in stoppage time when Xabi Alonso scored from inside his own half, a feat he’d later repeat against Newcastle United.

The most notable player link between the two clubs is Paul Walsh. He was PFA Young Player of the Year in 1983-84 with Luton, then moved to Liverpool ahead of the following season. His best form with the Reds saw him score 18 goals in a 21-appearance spell during the league and FA Cup double-winning campaign of 1985-86.