Manchester United vs. Burnley: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info
The recent performance level of Manchester United will concern their supporters after just two EPL wins in their last six games. Now the Red Devils face relegation candidates Burnley at Old Trafford.
Louis van Gaal has found it increasingly difficult to find a formation that not only utilises the team's superstars but also protects the defence from the opposition.
Despite their inconsistency, United are the overwhelming favourites to grab a win at the Theatre of Dreams, currently standing at 1-4 against, per Oddschecker.com.
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Here is how you can watch this exciting fixture, with live TV, stream information and match preview:
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT / 2:45 p.m. ET
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, UK
TV Info: NBC (U.S. only)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)
Van Gaal To Play Safe Against Burnley
There is something wrong at Manchester United.
Here we have a team full of millionaire superstars, and almost nine months after Van Gaal was announced as David Moyes' successor, the Dutch coach cannot find a formation to get the best from his troops.
United started the campaign with a 5-3-2, switched to a 4-4-2 diamond, flirted with 4-1-4-1, then reverted back to the 5-3-2—and somehow, LvG has arrived back at 4-4-2.
Some may point towards experimentation. Others will say Van Gaal does not know his best team.
For the match against Burnley, Van Gaal is likely to stick with the diamond he advocates, playing Wayne Rooney in a less productive midfield role, with Angel Di Maria featuring as a No. 10.
It is all rather confusing, as United's form sinks game by game. So how long will it be before the team is beaten heavily, as they were at Leicester City?
Luckily for United, their opponents on Wednesday night have suffered this season as they struggle to come to terms with life in the Premier League.
Burnley sit just one point above the relegation zone and will take whatever is on offer at Old Trafford as they look to survive.
Despite their lowly position, the Clarets have been regular scorers recently, hitting two goals in five of their last six games, per WhoScored.com.
It is a credible record for a team who look likely to be playing Championship football once again next year. Considering the way United are performing, they will fancy their chances of scoring a goal.
| Team | Form |
| Manchester United | LWDWWD |
| Burnley | DWLLLD |
| Home win | Draw | Away win |
| 1-4 | 5-1 | 11-1 |
Players To Watch and Key Battles
The form of Radamel Falcao continues to be scrutinised as it seems increasingly likely the Colombian superstar will not be at United next year.
Falcao has struggled to find his best form since his knee injury of last season, but he is up against the odds in a United team struggling to create and make forward passes.
El Tigre is a striker who needs a constant supply line to thrive, and Van Gaal's United are more concerned with possession and solidity.
Robin van Persie has also suffered as a direct consequence of tactics, but you hope United will let down their hair against inferior opposition in their own back yard.
But this is unlikely, as the Red Devils have proved countless times in the past few weeks.
The form of David de Gea has been key for Van Gaal and without him, things would be looking very similar to last season under Moyes.
The Spanish stopper has certainly been the best goalkeeper in the EPL over the past 18 months, and United will be hoping he signs a new deal as soon as possible. His agent hinted the player is prepared to extend his stay in the north-west, per James Ducker of The Times.
De Gea's battle with Burnley starlet Danny Ings could be the deciding factor of this tie if United refuse to play on the front foot and continue with the pedestrian style of recent matches.
Ings has impressed this term, and he has scored eight goals, providing four assists, in his 21 EPL appearances this season, per WhoScored.com.
De Gea will have to once again be in imperious form to keep the 22-year-old at bay, who is sure to still be a Premier League striker next season, even if his club are relegated.
United need to show some flair and class, and both of these elements have been missing for far too long. Van Gaal arrived at United as a manager who favoured attacking football, but he seems to be locked in fear of the Premier League, and the pace of the English game.
However, if United want to be in the Champions League next season, they need to beat teams like Burnley in the run-in.
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