Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor.

The two sides come into this game on the back of an identical run in the top flight with two wins, two draws and two victories in their last six outings. It is the Clarets who will be the happier of the two, though, with their target of survival looking a real possibility right now, while today's visitors find themselves nine points adrift of their ultimate aim of a top-four spot.

Kickoff is now under an hour away, so let's begin by taking a look at how both teams line up...

TEAM NEWS!

BURNLEY STARTING XI: Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Keane, Mee; Arfield, Jones, Marney, Boyd; Barnes, Ings

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Jones, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard, Markovic, Coutinho, Lallana, Sterling

So Brendan Rodgers has opted to stick with the same side in which rescued a late point against Arsenal last time out, meaning that Raheem Sterling retains his central attacking role, while Brad Jones is trusted between the sticks once more. Fabio Borini misses out on the squad having picked up a red card in that last outing, meanwhile, and there is also no place in the matchday squad for Joe Allen who is suffering with a knee injury.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rodgers has also decided to leave returning striker Mario Balotelli among the substitutes. It's fair to say that the controversial Italian has yet to have made the desired impact at Anfield, although having finally returned from and injury (and suspension) he may be given a chance to impress from the bench this afternoon.

In terms of Burnley, the big news for Claret supporters is that Sam Vokes returns to the matchday squad for the first time since March after overcoming a terrible knee ligament injury. The Welshman was in the form of his life alongside Danny Ings in the Championship last season, but his Premier League dream took a crushing blow when he was ruled out for eight months. He is back now, though, and will surely play a part from the bench at Turf Moor in this one.

The recent performances of Ashley Barnes led to some praise in the week from manager Sean Dyche, and he has been handed a starting spot once more this afternoon, alongside star striker Ings who has bagged a third of all his side's goals so far this campaign. Matt Taylor was expected to return in time for today's meeting against Liverpool, but he has failed to overcome an Achillies injury in time to feature.

BENCH WATCH!

BURNLEY SUBS: Gilks, Long, Kightly, Wallace, Reid, Jutkiewicz, Vokes

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Lambert, Moreno, Manquillo, Can, Balotelli, Ojo

The hosts have named a nice, attacking bench for this afternoon's contest, with the likes of Michael Kightly, Lukas Jutkiewicz and the aforementioned Vokes among their backups. Liverpool have named 17-year-old Sheyi Ojo in their squad for the first time, while Rickie Lambert and Balotelli provide plenty of attacking potential if needed.

PHOTOS: A glimpse inside the #LFC dressing room at Turf Moor ahead of kick off... pic.twitter.com/qeij4cOOLX — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2014

Well the fixtures are now coming thick and fast as we approach that halfway stage, meaning that this is a good time to sum up both sides' seasons to date. It took Burnley a while to get going following their promotion to the Premier League, although after finally picking up their first win of the campaign in November, the Clarets finally look settled in the top flight.

They may be camped inside the bottom three at the moment, although they have managed to draw level on points with safety, with three points this afternoon enough to potentially lift them to safety for the time being. Burnley can be commended for a lot, although there is no denying what their biggest downfall has been - a lack of goals.

Only Aston Villa (11) have scored fewer goals than Burnley's tally of 12 this campaign, and rather worryingly there has become a tendency to rely on the goals of Ings. But it will matter little if the striker, or his returning teammate Vokes for that matter, can continue banging in the goals which enable to Lancashire outfit to survive on their return to the Premier League.

If last season was one to remember for the Anfield faithful (up until the final few matches, at least), then this has certainly been one to forget thus far. The low point came earlier this month when they fell out of the Champions League at the first hurdle, ending their dreams of reaching the latter stages on their return to Europe's showpiece competition.

Liverpool have played three games since then, and although the results have been mixed (defeat at Old Trafford, victory against Bournemouth and a point against Arsenal), there has been plenty of positives for supporters. Rodgers has altered his system which seems to have worked, although the results now need to start coming on a consistent basis if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four once more.

PHOTO: He's back! Sam Vokes warms up with his Clarets teammates ahead of today's match. #ClaretsLIVE pic.twitter.com/O01XOLrI5g — Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) December 26, 2014

While Burnley's biggest problem on the whole has been a lack of goals, Liverpool's has been a lack of killer instinct in one box combined with a lack of resilience at the other end. Balotelli has yet to settle, Borini has failed to impress, Lambert has not reached the levels he set at Southampton, while Daniel Sturridge has been battling various injury problems.

It's now down to Raheem Sterling to contribute goals from a central position, while the much-criticised Brad Jones must battle through and keep out strikes at the other end. That is the only way Liverpool will turn around their inconsistent campaign, and that is how Rodgers will keep his job at the helm. It's all very simple really, isn't it?

DID YOU KNOW? Liverpool are in their lowest league position at this stage of a campaign since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93. Not that Reds' supporters need any reminding, but this time 12 months ago they were top of the pile.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: These two sides have met twice before at this level; both times in the 2009-10 season with Liverpool running out 4-0 winners in either fixture. The second of those games saw Burnley relegated from the Prem, although that was the Reds' only win at Turf Moor in 10 attempts in all competitions.

All-in-all, Burnley have won 18 of their 38 home games against today's opponents which, combined with their current four-game unbeaten run at Turf Moor, sets up a tricky tie for Reodgers's men this afternoon.

Kickoff is now less than 10 minutes away, meaning that there is still time to check out Sports Mole's preview below:

Prediction: While they may be separated by seven points in the Premier League table, this is by no means a banker for Liverpool. The two sides come into this game on the back of identical form in the top flight, and buoyed by their impressive home record Burnley will fancy bagging a memorable result here today. That said, Brendan Rodgers has finally got his side working in a system that gets the best out of certain players, and I think they will prove a little too strong for their opponents this afternoon. 1-3.

Both sets of players are now out onto the field, as we move ever closer to kickoff at Turf Moor. Today is all about three points for teams with entirely different goals this season. Brendan Rodgers and Sean Dyche know each other well from their time together at Watford, but today they will be fighting it out for all three points.

Can Burnley continue their recent impressive form? Will Liverpool finally get the points their recent performances have deserved? It's time to find out...

KICKOFF! There's a great atmosphere inside Turf Moor, as Burnley get proceedings underway. Both sides are unchanged for today's game if you're just joining us, and there's a real attacking intensity to begin with.

Burnley have had plenty of the ball in the opening couple of minutes, with Liverpool just happy to sit back early on. They are perhaps looking to lure Burnley into a false sense of security before hitting their opponents on the break.

Arfield does brilliantly to keep the ball in play on the left, cutting it back for Ings who was eased out. A good, positive start from the home side.

Sterling rounds Heaton before putting the ball into the back of the net, although the flag had been up for a good five seconds beforehand due to the makeshift forward being in an offside position. Liverpool growing into the game.

There's no denying who has started the better here - Burnley are taking control of possession in the middle of the park, without creating any real openings. That won't bother Rodgers too much at this stage, with his side breaking forward occasionally through Markovic, Sterling and Lallana.

The omens are not great for Liverpool...

2 - Liverpool have lost both Boxing Day fixtures under Brendan Rodgers' stewardship. Jaded.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2014

SHOT! A first real attempt of the game comes from the boot of Ings, who unleashes from distance with a wayward shot after Martin Skrtel backed off him.

Boyd is given a ball to run onto through the middle for Burnley, although Toure was across to clear the danger. No real chances for either side inside the opening 11 minutes, but you get the sense that we will see a goal or two this afternoon.

OFF THE POST! So, so unlucky for Burnley and Danny Ings. The striker was allowed to turn on the edge of the area and move into a central position on the edge of the box, firing an effort which came back off the outside of the post and away

That's not the first time Liverpool have backed off Ings this afternoon; they cannot allow him that kind of space around the area.

LIVERPOOL SUB: An early change for the Reds as Brad Jones leaves the field. He picked up a thigh injury during the warm-up, and has now been replaced by Simon Mignolet. An unexpected chance for the Belgian to impress, then.

Burnley still looking strong, and they are really testing the Liverpool backline. Ings is looking particularly sharp, getting his head on a ball into the box which he was unable to direct goalwards. Liverpool still finding their feet, it seems.

Almost a disaster from substitute Mignolet, who is clearly lacking confidence at the moment. Ings chased down the Belgian's clearance with the ball coming back off him towards goal, although Mignolet was quick to take control.

I initially thought Liverpool had deliberately opted to sit back and soak up the early attacks before hitting Burnley on the break, but that is clearly not the case because the hosts are dominating. Arfield seems to have a free role in midfield, Ings's energy is seeing him cause problems and if either side is going to score it is going to be Dyche's men.

Just as I say that Liverpool hit Burnley on the counter-attack to win a corner, which lands perfectly to Coutinho inside the box. His volley was blocked away in the end, though, and Liverpool's best opening yet goes begging.

Lallana goes on a surging run down the right, although his ball into a central position on the edge of the box is not controlled by Sterling. It's just not working for the Reds at the moment.

SAVE! Liverpool have seen more of the ball in the last few minutes, and it tells as Lallana gets a shot away at goal. The chance came about thanks to a superb first-time pass from Gerrard into the path of his teammate, although Lallana's drive was well handled down low by Heaton.

It's incredibly frantic in the middle of the pitch, with Burnley chasing every loose ball down. That is certainly not helping Liverpool, who are trying to pass the ball through midfield.

Ben Mee's loose header allows Henderson to whip a ball into the box, although Sterling didn't get enough on the ball to get the better of Heaton.

It's been a very scrappy game on the whole, with that Lallana chance a few minutes ago the best of the lot so far. It is Burnley who are playing the better football, however, and they came within inches of opening the scoring when Ings struck the post a little while ago.

CLOSE! Just to emphasis that previous point, Burnley came close to opening the scoring once more. A corner kick was not dealt with and fell invitingly to Arfield on the edge of the area, with his shot being turned behind right in front of goal by Lucas. Mignolet may have been across to cover it, but the Brazilian was taking no chances.

SHOT! Having picked up a loose ball around 20 yards from goal, Boyd opts to unleash an effort which flies over the crossbar. Burnley deserve a goal for their hard work in these opening 40 minutes or so.

SHOT! Burnley are clearly trying to test Mignolet at every given opportunity, as Barnes get a weak shot in at goal down the middle. The Belgian kept it out, although Arfield was on hand to get a toe to the ball, which was also pushed away.

A lively few minutes, then, which has involved the home side really upping the intensity - and shots on goal count - as they go in search of a breakthrough. It looks as though the half will finish goalless, yet Burnley certainly deserve something to show for their efforts.

SHOT! Liverpool are continuing to give Burnley's players a load of time around the area. A cross into the box was not dealt with - again - with Marney the man profiting as he took range, firing over the crossbar. One minute of added time to be played.

Referee Anthony Taylor brings the opening 45 minutes to a close, and it is Sean Dyche who will go in by far the happier of the two managers. His side dominated that half on the whole, firing in a number of shots of goal and hitting the post through Ings's effort.

That said, A truly poor Liverpool restricted Burnley having failed to get out of first gear, and they can surely only improve following the restart. Their brightest moment came midway through the half when Gerrard played a superb first-time ball into the path of Lallana, although the midfielder saw his effort kept out by Heaton.

PHOTO: Raheem Sterling in action at Turf Moor. pic.twitter.com/Vmf4NJCZGW

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2014

MATCH STATS: Burnley have edged the possession (52% to Liverpool's 48%), although it is in the shots department that the hosts have dominated. Eight shots in all Dyche's men have had, compared to their opponent's three. We can surely expect that to change following the restart.

BENCH WATCH!

BURNLEY SUBS: Gilks, Long, Kightly, Wallace, Reid, Jutkiewicz, Vokes

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Lambert, Moreno, Manquillo, Can, Balotelli, Ojo

A reminder that the Reds have already been forced into one change with Mignolet replacing the injured Jones in goals. There are plenty of attacking options for both sides to turn to at the break should they wish, and it wouldn't surprise me if Rodgers does just that.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! As expected, Rodgers has opted to make a change at the break. Emre Can has been introduced in place of Toure - an alteration of system from Rodgers.

In fact it looks as though Liverpool will stick with the same formation. It didn't work in the first half, but will it work in the second 45 minutes?

Liverpool are enjoying far more possession in the opening stages of the second half compared to the first. Now that they have found their passing groove they must translate that into chances created

Well what we have now is an even game of football which could go either way. The Reds certainly look better now, carving Burnley open through Gerrard's pass only for play to be called back due to offside.

Burnley have pressed so well this afternoon to restrict Liverpool, although they are not creating any real openings. Their latest opportunity came through a Mee cross, which was well collected by Mignolet.

Not a lot of note to report back at the moment. Both sides are knocking the ball back and forth before losing possession more times than not. It has been a sloppy game on the whole, which will suit Burnley just fine if it means grabbing a point.

The visitors have enjoyed a rare sustained period of possession in the opposition half over the last couple of minutes, breaking through Sterling on the left, although he had no teammates in support. The attack eventually broke down with Liverpool passing the ball back into their own half.

Sakho has been walking around rather gingerly over the last 10 minutes or so. Alberto Moreno is warming up on the sidelines, and he may be introduced shortly.

Having created nothing in the opening hour, Liverpool take the lead through makeshift forward Raheem Sterling. Coutinho picked up a loose ball in the middle for the first time this afternoon, playing a hopeful ball over the top for his teammate to latch onto, and the Englishman didn't panic as he rounded Heaton and tapped home.

The game desperately needed a goal, and while Liverpool have hardly done enough to merit a lead, they deserve some credit for making the breakthrough while stuck in first gear. Can Burnley respond?

Great noise coming from the away fans now for the first time this afternoon. They had next to nothing to cheer about up until that Sterling goal, which came pretty much from nowhere.

CHANCE! Mignolet has had an absolute howler. The ball was played back to him but instead of booting it up the field he just let the ball roll and roll before it edged out of play. His confidence is in tatters at the moment. Burnley almost punished Liverpool from the corner, too, with Trippier's second attempt at a cross being headed into the side-netting by Keane.

3 - Raheem Sterling has scored three goals in his last three appearances after going 17 games without one for Liverpool. Reinvented.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2014

SHOT! Coutinho goes on a decent individual run before unleashing a shot, which is deflected into the side-netting by Keane. The corner was cleared by Barnes, though, as Liverpool push for a second.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Rodgers has already been forced into making two changes, and he opts to make his final sub with 15 minutes remaining. Lambert is the man to come on in place of Coutinho.

Skrtel, who looked a bit shaky in the first half, produces a good clearance to keep Burnley out. The Clarets will throw all they have at Liverpool as we enter the final 15 minutes.

GOAL RULED OUT! Lambert thought he had bagged himself a confidence-boosting goal just minutes after being introduced, slotting the ball home following another fine pass from Gerrard, although he was a yard or so offside. Good decision from the officials.

SHOT! Ings shows some good footwork to earn a yard of space before firing in his first effort of the second half, but he was unable to find the target. Burnley have lost their way somewhat since that Liverpool goal and need to change it up a bit.

Burnley still refusing to allow Liverpool to pick up loose balls, and the energy of Ings allows Boyd to get a sight of goal inside the area, but Sakho remained strong to see the chance pass the Clarets by.

BURNLEY SUB: A much-welcome return to the field for Welshman Sam Vokes, who is introduced for the first time since March following that terrible knee ligament injury. Ashley Barnes is the man to make way.

His goal remains the difference at Turf Moor with seven minutes of the game remaining...

Raheem Sterling has now been directly involved in 36.3% of Liverpool's goals in the league this season (4G & 4A). pic.twitter.com/rUxGAoY9ci — Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 26, 2014

YELLOW CARD! Lucas receives the game's first booking following a cynical challenge on Arfield. Burnley will use the break in play to introduce Ross Wallace, who comes on in place of Jones.

Liverpool have certainly looked to more composed side since Sterling's goal. This game is not over yet, but the Reds look comfortable with four minutes left to play.

SHOT! Boyd has another pop on goal from the edge of the box, but his drilled right-footed effort ended wide of the target. Up the other end Sterling came equally as close with an attempt of his own. An open end to the game - is there time for a late twist?

Burnley looking to sustain some pressure as they earn a corner, but they fail to capitalise on the set piece. We will play an additional three minutes at Turf Moor.

Some good work from Lallana allows Liverpool to relieve some of the pressure put on them. They have a throw deep in Burnley's half with two minutes left to play.

BURNLEY SUB: Jutkiewicz is brought on for the final 60 seconds in place of Mee. Last throw of the dice.

Skrtel fails to deal with the substitute's flick-on, although the ball runs straight through to Mignolet. That should be that.

Anthony Taylor draws a close to the game, meaning that Liverpool return to winning ways in the league. It was all very scrappy in the end, but the Reds did what they needed to do to come away from Turf Moor with all three points.

That's all from me in terms of live commentary, but be sure to stick around with player ratings and a full match analysis to follow in due course. Thanks for joining!