Morning Mix: Kelleher must shine for Liverpool, time running out for Burnley manager

It is Friday again which means it is time for Morning Mix’ – our weekly football column with a bit of music thrown in for good measure.

We look at two major talking points for the weekend ahead and point you in the direction of some of the best football stories elsewhere on the internet.

We also offer a top tune recommendation to get you in the mood for the weekend and what to watch out for over the coming days. Let’s get started!

Klopp hopes Kelleher will seize the moment

The news that Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson will miss the next few games with a hamstring injury has the potential to blow a hole in the club’s title ambitions.

Alisson’s statistics this season show how important he is to the team and it will be intriguing to see if Caoimhin Kelleher can adequately replace him.

The upcoming fixture list has been relatively kind to Kelleher, with Liverpool strongly fancied to win their next three league games.

However, manager Jurgen Klopp will want Alisson back in the starting XI when the Reds host Manchester United on December 17.

Time running out for Burnley manager

We highlighted a few weeks ago that Vincent Kompany’s naivety as a manager was hindering Burnley’s hopes of staying in the Premier League.

Things have not improved since then, with the Clarets losing all four league matches to continue their thoroughly miserable season.

While there has been plenty of talk about other managers being under pressure, Kompany has gone under the radar despite the club’s lavish spending in the summer.

If Burnley fail to beat fellow strugglers Sheffield United at Turf Moor this weekend, people may finally acknowledge that Kompany’s managerial reputation is overblown.

The week that was

Are you looking for the best football stories from the past week? Check these out:

• Bruno Fernandes knows what the problem is – so why can’t he fix it?
• Mark Bonner’s Cambridge exit reminds us of the strange existence for managers.
• I spent two days behind the scenes with TNT Sports – this is how it really works.

Today’s top tune

Singer/songwriter Rianne Downey is in the midst of a UK tour and is well worth checking out if you get the opportunity.

Her latest single ‘Beautiful View’ is another dreamy classic. Give your ears a treat and click the video.

What to watch this week

Steve Cooper was at his whiny worst after Nottingham Forest slipped to a 3-2 home defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

If Everton can do the business at the City Ground tomorrow, maybe Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis will do us all a favour and ditch this incessant moaner.

A final Morning Mix thought

Speaking of moaning, would it be too much to ask of Premier League clubs to get through a weekend without digging out match officials?