Manchester United will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they face off against Burnley in the Premier League this midweek.
Manchester United will be aiming to strengthen their grip on fourth place in the Premier League table when they travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley on Tuesday night.
Manchester United have not been able to string together a consistent run of results, but with teams around them also slipping up, they have been able to move up to the fourth spot following their crucial 1-0 win over fifth-placed West Ham United. Having gone four games without a defeat in all competitions, the Red Devils suffered a shock penalty shootout loss to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last week.
With West Ham just a point adrift and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal not far away, the 20-time English champions cannot afford any more mistakes or slip-ups. But visiting Turf Moor to face Burnley is never an easy proposition for teams in the Premier League.
The Clarets are enduring a difficult season, having won just one of their 19 games this term, which sees them sit at the bottom of the table. But with 17th-placed Norwich City just three points away, there is still plenty of hope for Sean Dyche’s men, who have played back-to-back goalless draws against Watford and Burnley in their last two league games.
The reverse fixture saw Manchester United beat Burnley 3-1 at Old Trafford with Scott McTominay and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring on either side of a Ben Mee own goal. Ahead of their latest meeting, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams.
Team News & Tactics
Burnley
Charlie Taylor is closing in on a return from injury, but Tuesday’s game comes too soon for the left-back. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (appendicitis) and Matej Vydra (hernia) will miss out, while fellow striker Ashley Barnes is a major doubt. Josh Brownhill is back available for Sean Dyche after serving his one-match ban.
Burnley will line up in their usual 4-4-2 formation, setting up in a deep defensive block to soak up pressure from the hosts and hit them on the break. Nick Pope will be key between the sticks for the Clarets. The English international will be protected by a back four comprising Connor Roberts, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Erik Pieters, who will stay tight and compact at the back.
Ashley Westwood and the returning Brownhill will be tasked with holding down the fort in the middle of the park. Their primary task will be to curtail the influence of Bruno Fernandes and try to find the wide players when in possession to launch counter-attacks.
Dwight McNeil and Maxwel Cornet ought to be the two wingers on the right and left sides respectively. How they fare will be critical to Burnley’s hopes of picking up a win on Tuesday. They will act as the main supply line of chances for the two-pronged strikeforce of Jay Rodriguez and January signing Wout Weghorst.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Pope; Roberts, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters; McNeil, Westwood, Brownhill, Cornet; Weghorst, Rodriguez
Manchester United
Manchester United will have to make do without Alex Telles and Fred after the duo tested positive for coronavirus. Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani, who missed the cup tie at the weekend, are back in contention and will be part of the squad. Victor Lindelof (illness) and Eric Bailly (ankle) are doubts for the contest.
Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane are fit and available for selection after picking up knocks against Middlesbrough. There are unlikely to be many changes made to the team that took the field in midweek, although Ralf Rangnick will be hoping for a much better display from his charges.
? Ralf has delivered an update on @RaphaelVarane, @ECavaniOfficial and more ahead of #BURMUN…#MUFC | #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 7, 2022
After making way for Dean Henderson in the FA Cup clash, David de Gea ought to return in goal. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw are locked in as the full-backs on the right and left sides respectively. Dalot provides a good outlet on the right but will need to be wary of the threat posed by Cornet. Varane and Harry Maguire should pair up at the heart of the defence.
With Fred ruled out, Scott McTominay becomes the automatic pick at the base of the three-man midfield unit in Rangnick’s 4-3-3 setup. The other two slots ought to be occupied by Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba, who will be crucial if Manchester United are to unlock a stubborn Burnley defence.
Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho should again slot in on the flanks while Cristiano Ronaldo spearheads the attack for the Red Devils. Anthony Elanga, Lingard and Cavani will be options from the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): de Gea; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Fernandes, McTominay, Pogba; Rashford, Ronaldo, Sancho
Key Stats
- Manchester United have picked up more points at Turf Moor than they have at Old Trafford in Premier League games against Burnley.
- Burnley have lost their last five Premier League home matches against Manchester United without scoring.
- Manchester United have collected 21 points from their previous ten league fixtures since the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (W6, D3, L1)
- Cristiano Ronaldo turned 37 three days ago, and he could become the third player aged 37 or above to score a Premier League goal for Manchester United after Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
Player to Watch
Marcus Rashford
After what has been a difficult season for Rashford, recent weeks have brought about some positive moments. The England international has scored in his last two Premier League appearances, including the winning goal against West Ham United last month. He looked lively in the FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough but was guilty of spurning a couple of good chances.
Rashford must show a greater clinical edge in front of goal and take his opportunities if he is to turn around his campaign. A good display against Burnley could set the tone for the rest of the season for the Manchester United academy graduate.
Prediction
Burnley 0-2 Manchester United
Manchester United continue to be plagued with problems under interim manager Ralf Rangnick and have been unable to play good football over an extended period, which was evident in the cup defeat to Middlesbrough. However, against a team that is stationed at the bottom of the Premier League table and has won just one game all season, the Red Devils go in as the favourites for a victory.
Manchester United have history on their side, having strung together a solid run of results at Turf Moor, and have a much superior squad. With Paul Pogba back, they will also have an added creative presence, enabling them to clinch all three points on Tuesday.
Man u can is not a good team
Man u is not a good team
BUR 1-1 MUN
Utd is an inconsistent team, difficult to support
Man united will win this one
The team is short of idea and can not adapt to Ralf’s footballing philosophy. I feel, man utd are their own night made cos Conte would have been a perfect fit for those players… They need a hard man to sit up….all these baby face coaches they keep bringing to this team will keep the club perpetually in jorpady….