CHARLIE Taylor could be back in the matchday 18 for Burnley at Anfield on Saturday after falling victim to the competitive nature of Sean Dyche's squad last week.

The left-back, a £4.8million summer arrival from Leeds United, lost his place on the bench for the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Turf Moor.

But Dyche said Taylor had impressed him with the start he had made to his Clarets career and he could be back involved against Liverpool as the Turf Moor chief looks to keep all of his first team squad involved in the action.

Dyche believes this season's squad is the most competitive he has had available to him in his time at the club, which means there will be one or two unfortunate absentees each week.

"Last week Charlie Taylor missed off the bench, but the difference with the squad this season is that we don’t have a hierarchy where somebody is on the bench," Dyche said of his squad.

"I said to the players we’ve created fine margins, there is very little between who is starting and who is on the bench."

Taylor is piling the pressure on Stephen Ward for the left-back berth in the Clarets' Premier League team and he may return to the bench this weekend, meaning Phil Bardsley or one of the more attacking substitutes could miss out on the matchday squad.

Dyche believes the increased competition in his squad and the fine margins between first teamers and those fighting to take their place could lead to more rotation this season as he seeks to keep all players happy.

He also reserved praise for the impression Taylor has made at the club since joining early in July.

"There’ll be tactical reasons why you’re starting or on the bench, and sometimes it’s to make sure key players are staying involved and knowing they’re on the cusp of things," he said.

"Chaz came out last week but it doesn’t mean he will this week, because he’s doing absolutely fine, I’m really enjoying what he is doing.

"It’s just the margins between playing and not playing are really, really tight. It’s some changes tactically and others to make sure people are always involved, which is why we carry low numbers, and the squad mentality is a massively important thing for us."