The Fiercely Competitive Premier League Standings

After the first round of the UEFA Champions League group stage concluded, it was already mid-September.

Over the next half month, Liverpool would face an exceptionally packed schedule.

They had to play five matches in fifteen days, basically one every three days. Three of those five would be away games, including a UEFA Champions League group-stage trip all the way to Moscow.

The schedule was grueling.

Fortunately, Liverpool had suffered almost no major injuries at the start of the season.

Their deep bench gave Klopp the confidence to rotate his squad.

September 16, Sunday, Premier League Matchday Five.

Liverpool hosted Burnley at Anfield.

Burnley had barely avoided relegation last season, but they were a tenacious side with a tough defense, famously difficult to break down.

Klopp knew that well. With a League Cup match still to come in midweek, he made extensive changes to the lineup.

At the back, Lovren and Matip partnered at center-back, Theo made his first start at left-back, and Achraf started at right-back.

The midfield three consisted of Henderson, Milner, and Chamberlain.

The front three were Perisic, Firmino, and Origi.

Other than goalkeeper Alisson, who was a regular starter, nearly every position in this lineup had been rotated.

Clearly, Klopp was preparing for the dense run of fixtures ahead.

Burnley were troublesome, but the gap in quality was there. Liverpool's rotated lineup should still have been enough.

The course of the match proved that assessment correct.

Burnley indeed set up a defensive wall and packed their penalty area.

Liverpool's rotated side struggled somewhat, but goals from Firmino and Perisic ultimately secured a narrow 2-1 win over Burnley and three precious points.

On September 20, Liverpool traveled to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City away in the EFL Cup.

Liverpool continued to rotate for this