Burnley achieve remarkable feat with lineup for first time since 1998-1999 season
What’s in a number?
For football purists, a shirt number symbolises a position, a style, and a player.
Think Lionel Messi’s number 10 shirt, Cristiano Ronaldo’s number 7, or the iconic number 8 shirt that adorned the backs of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MARCH 07: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on March 07, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
In recent times, the numbers, like transfer fees, have been a little all over the place. Taking Chelsea as an example, first-team options Cesar Azpilicueta and Kai Havertz don the 28 and 29 shirts respectively.
Burnley head back to tradition
Typically, Burnley are known as an old school Premier League side, relying on English talent and playing in a traditional 4-4-2 system.
And they have kept up their old fashioned style with their team selection today, specifically the shirt numbers that each player is wearing. Sean Dyche has managed to name an 11 with the shirt numbers 1-11, something which hasn’t been done since Charlton Athletic did so in the 1998-99 season.
📋 Here is how the Clarets line-up this afternoon at Anfield, from 1⃣ to 1⃣1⃣ 👇
18-year old Owen Dodgson makes the bench for the first time for Sean Dyche’s side, the youngster can operate at left-back and left-midfield 👊#LIVBUR | #UTC | @SpreadexSport pic.twitter.com/QrSQ3rrwOM
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 21, 2021
🚨⚽️ | NEW: Burnley have today become the first team since Charlton Athletic in the second game of 1998-99, to start a Premier League match with the players whose squad numbers are 1-11
— Football For All (@FootballlForAll) August 21, 2021
Dyche, and Burnley, will hope that this is where the comparisons to Charlton end, with the Addicks having been relegated at the end of the campaign.
Can Burnley avoid history repeating itself?
