Burnley will be looking for their first win of the new year when they host local rivals Manchester United at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon. After a strong start to the season, the Clarets have fallen away somewhat, with their last win coming in mid-December at home to Stoke City. Since then, they’ve been winless in their last six league games, and were dumped out of the FA Cup following a 4-1 defeat at the Etihad against Manchester City
For Manchester United, 2018 has started pretty much on the perfect note, with a 100% record across all competitions, beating Everton and Stoke in the league and Derby County in the FA Cup. They’ve also effectively snatched Alexis Sanchez from under the noses of bitter rivals Man City, although the fixture at Turf Moor comes too early for the Arsenal forward to make his Red Devils debut.
Following City’s Round 23 loss at Anfield, United have cut the gap at the top to 12 points- the same at this very stage of the 1995/96 league season which the Red Devils went on to famously win. That was also the season where Liverpool beat the leaders (Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle) 4-3 at Anfield- two stats which United will hope could breathe new life into the title race.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly, Daley Blind and Michael Carrick are all sidelined for the Red Devils, while the likes of Tom Heaton, Robbie Brady, Stephen Ward and Chris Wood are all on the treatment table for Burnley.
The Clarets were the last team to score against United- a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford which saw the hosts require a brace from Jesse Lingard to overturn a two goal deficit. Since then, United have kept four clean sheets. Goal scoring has been an issue for Burnley- despite being seventh in the table, they’ve been outscored by all but four of the teams in the league.
Burnley do however boast of the fourth best defence in the league- only United, Chelsea and City have shipped in less, which makes this a very interesting clash indeed. If you fancy Sean Dyche’s side at 13/2 (this is his 100th Premier League game as manager), be sure to check out this Bet365 sign up offer before putting some money on the Clarets. The last three managers to have United as their 100th PL game opponents- Mick McCarthy (Wolves), Roy Hodgson (Fulham) and Steve McClaren (Boro), have ALL ended up on the winning side.
The ref for this one is Mike Dean, with whom United have had mixed luck in the 2017/18 season. He was the ref when the Red Devils beat Crystal Palace 4-0 in September, but he was also the man with the whistle when Bristol City shocked Jose Mourinho’s men in the League Cup. Burnley’s solitary game with him in the middle saw them beat Newcastle at Turf Moor back in October.
Form Guide
Crystal Palace 1-0 Burnley
Man City 4-1 Burnley
Burnley 1-2 Liverpool
Huddersfield 0-0 Burnley
Man Utd 2-2 Burnley
Man Utd 3-0 Stoke
Man Utd 2-0 Derby
Everton 0-2 Man Utd
Man Utd 0-0 Saints
Man Utd 2-2 Burnley
Burnley v Man Utd kicks off on Saturday (3pm) at Turf Moor with Mike Dean as referee.