Vincent Kompany and his Burnley side will welcome Manchester United in the Premier League. The hosts earned a point after their previous 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. Erik ten Hag’s team lost 4-3 to Bayern Munich in a Champions League showdown.
Preview (Burnley vs. Manchester United)
Zeki Amdouni’s delightfully struck goal for Burnley versus Forest had given the hosts the lead before Foster’s nightmare sequences. The Tricky Trees newcomer Callum Hudson-Odoi outdid the Clarets forward’s goal with a magnificent curling attempt. By doing so, Steve Cooper’s team attained some measure of vengeance for their EFL Cup defeat to Burnley. Amdouni once more caused the net to tremble. To this day, the 1-0 triumph remains the Clarets’ solitary triumph of the 2023–24 campaign. However, only a useless Luton Town team has performed worse than Kompany’s men in the top division.
Rasmus Hojlund’s first goal for the club and Casemiro’s brace gave the Red Devils some hope of a stunning comeback. Harry Kane, Leroy Sane, and Serge Gnabry had already broken through Erik ten Hag’s backline. After Mathys Tel scored Bayern’s fourth goal, the Brazilian came back. The game ended almost immediately after he nodded in Bruno Fernandes’s free kick. As a result, Man United suffered their third straight loss, following 3-1 losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal.
Man United’s efforts on the field are also lacking as concerns off the field persist. Ten Hag, who is allegedly in danger of losing the dressing room, urged his players to “look in the mirror” after producing another defensive disasterclass in Munich. The Red Devils have lost four of their last five away Premier League games, making them one of only four teams without a point on the road this season. However, a five-game unbeaten streak against Saturday’s opponents may offer some comfort to the traveling supporters.
Team News
Burnley forward Foster, who assisted Amdouni in scoring in the first half, was given a straight red card against Nottingham Forest and now faces a three-match domestic suspension. He will also be ineligible to play against Salford City and Newcastle United. For the match against the Red Devils, Kompany will also undoubtedly be without Michael Obafemi (hamstring), Hjalmar Ekdal (knee), and Darko Churlinov (blood poisoning). Vitinho’s own knee issue will also need to be evaluated over the next few days, but Jordan Beyer should be fine after experiencing cramping.
Jay Rodriguez would be a like-for-like replacement for Foster up front, but Aaron Ramsey, Mike Tresor, Anass Zaroury, and Benson Manuel should all compete for the starting spot in the final third. The Red Devils’ manager, Ten Hag, was unable to draw many positives from Wednesday’s humiliation at the hands of the Bavarians, but at least there were no new injury concerns to add to the team’s tally of 11 absentees.
Due to the fact that Harry Maguire was also unable to go to Munich due to a minor muscular issue, which may or may not resolve in time for Saturday’s match, Ten Hag was once again left with limited options for replacement. Due to the numerous problems facing Manchester United, Burnley may be playing at the perfect time. Injuries, defensive flaws, and off-the-field scandals all pose a threat to Ten Hag’s preparations. The porous Red Devils defense shouldn’t escape the game unharmed, but on the other hand, Burnley has been handing out goals like there’s no tomorrow at home, and Man United’s formidable offensive forces can fight fire with fire to earn a tough road victory.
Burnley 1 – 2 Manchester United
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