SAM Vokes feels he is a better striker now than the one who broke his Premier League duck against today's opponents Liverpool just over a year ago.

Since the start of last season Vokes has struck 12 Premier League goals, taking him top of the charts for the Clarets in the division, and he now looks every inch a top flight striker.

But going into the start of last season the Wales international was searching for that elusive first goal in the Premier League after 27 appearances, many of them off the bench, for Wolves and Burnley.

Within two minutes of Liverpool's trip to Turf Moor last August the wait was over as Vokes turned and fired beyond Simon Mignolet from the edge of the area, setting Burnley on their way to a 2-0 win over the Reds.

"I think it was a relief at the time, yes," Vokes said of the moment his top flight drought came to an end, and he hasn't looked back since.

Ever the team man Vokes' initial thoughts of that stunning success over Jurgen Klopp's side, which proved to be the catalyst for the home record that kept the Clarets up, are of what a 'huge' victory it was after losing at home to Swansea on the opening day.

But on a personal level he feels he has improved as a player 13 months on from that day, with regular exposure to the Premier League helping his cause.

"I feel a lot more confident at this level," he said. "My all-round play you learn lot from playing at this level. Hopefully I have added that to my game.

"Scoring goals is what you want to be doing as a striker but the all-round game and getting games in against these sides is important. Going to places like Anfield where we have played a few times now is not something new for us."

While Vokes' memories of facing Liverpool in a Burnley shirt are positive, he has been on the end of dejection at Anfield as well.

He was on loan at Brighton in February 2012 when the Seagulls travelled to Merseyside in an FA Cup tie and they were on the end of a 6-1 hammering with Vokes inadvertently playing a key role in one of the goals as his goalline clearance hit teammate Liam Bridcutt on the back of the head and went in, one of two own goals Bridcutt scored on the day, with Lewis Dunk scoring another.

But Burnley were unlucky in losing 2-1 at Liverpool in March, having led through Ashley Barnes for most of the first half, and Vokes is relishing the chance to play at another iconic ground again.

"It’s got a big new stand now and is a great place to go to and play," he said. "We were unlucky there last year, we took the lead and had them on the back foot for most of the game.

"For us it’s another game we can to with no fear. Obviously, a great place to play football but we take a lot of confidence there with our recent performances."