SEAN Dyche has backed his side to thrive in the Premier League this season if they continue to display their killer touch.

The Clarets soaked up plenty of pressure against Liverpool last weekend, but when the opportunities came they struck clinically and were 2-0 up by half-time.

And Dyche, who saw his team see out that scoreline with a superb containing performance in the second half, insists knowing when to transform defence into attack is where his side can profit this season.

“You’ve got to know when to press, that’s the secret,” he said.

“We pressed well for the first goal (against Liverpool), and the second with the breakaway.

“The knowledge base is when to press, and how to work on transition.

“I said three years ago transition is the future of football, not because I had a crystal ball but I felt that was how the game was going - how quickly you can turn attack into defence, defence to attack.

“Reforming your shape to defend, breaking from your shape to attack.

“The difference is teams are now playing more football away from the goal, (having) a lot of possession and not always looking to penetrate.

“Or they are trying to penetrate by keeping the ball and making the opposition lose their shape, or come out of their shape.

“If you come out of shape too early those top players will pick you off.

“Not all teams will do that to you, but some of them will because they have so much talent.

“The two boxes are where it’s all happening, because loads of teams can do well in the middle bit. I think Leicester were a shining example of that. They were superb at defending their own box and clinical at the other end.”

Dyche’s men head to Stamford Bridge today looking to repeat the level of performance they displayed against the Reds, with the manager happy his team showed they have the ability to close out games in the top flight.

“Yes, that’s learning and developing as a group, and experience, of course,” he added.

“Some of our players are still here from the last time. We’re finding different ways to win – we did that last season.

“And it’s not just about what we ask them to do. It’s about using their own game knowledge.

“Each game plays out differently, and you’ve got to be flexibly-minded.

“During a game is where your trust in the players comes in, if you need to alter the shape depending on how the game’s going.

“At half-time, of course, you can tell them what you see is happening, but it’s up to them to change things as they’re playing too.

“We do have some obvious tactical options, but player knowledge is an important thing and I thought they did that very well last season.

“It’s important to know how to play a game like that.

“We were 2-0 up pretty early, so do you go for three, four or five against Liverpool? I don’t think you do.

“At half-time the directive was quite clear – we defend with the right shape, the right mindset, which includes the ability to attack, particularly on the counter.

“And four or five times in the second half we were inches away from getting another opening.

“Each game changes, and we’ve learned that as a team and as a staff.”