Manchester United vs. Burnley: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info
Only three points will do for Manchester United on Saturday in the Premier League as they welcome Burnley to Old Trafford.
The week prior to this clash has been one of mixed fortunes for United boss Jose Mourinho. His side slumped to a shocking 4-0 defeat against Chelsea on Sunday before they toppled a much-changed Manchester City side in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Burnley are the big underdogs for this one, although they come into the game on the back of a positive result themselves. Scott Arfield’s dramatic late goal saw the Clarets secure a 2-1 win over Everton at Turf Moor; the challenge for Sean Dyche’s side will be finding similar levels away from home.
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Here is the vital viewing information for the game and a look at how both teams are shaping up ahead of this important tussle.
Date: Saturday, October 29
Time: 3 p.m. (BST), 10 a.m. (ET)
TV Info: NBC Sports (U.S)
Live Stream: NBCSN (U.S.)
Team News
Mourinho will be without Eric Bailly for this one after his injury against Chelsea, while Phil Jones is also a long-term absentee. It’ll be fascinating to see whether the manager recalls Henrikh Mkhitaryan to the squad too; the summer signing his been absent lately despite recently returning to fitness.
The game may come too early for Steven Defour, according to Chris Boden of the Burnley Express. However, Dyche will be able to call upon Andre Gray again after he completed his four-game suspension.
Likely Lineups
Manchester United: David De Gea; Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw; Michael Carrick, Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera; Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Burnley: Tom Heaton; Matt Lowton, Michael Keane, Ben Mee, Stephen Ward; Scott Arfield, Jeff Hendrick, Dean Marney, Kris Boyd; Sam Vokes, Andre Gray.
Preview
While a win over City on Wednesday gave plenty at Old Trafford a morale boost following the dreadful performance at Stamford Bridge, there’s undoubtedly still plenty of work to be done at United.
Chelsea exposed some major flaws in the Red Devils setup. The defensive structure remains brittle, the midfield balance skewed and, in the final third, Mourinho is still looking for the right blend of options.
Against City, there were some tweaks that paid dividends, most notably the inclusion of veteran Carrick. Former United man Danny Higginbotham praised the influence of the 35-year-old:
Burnley will likely sit deep and try to stifle the Red Devils in this one, meaning it could be an ideal game to reintroduce Carrick to Premier League football. His composure and passing range from a deeper position will help United probe with incision and keep their opponents on the back foot.
The forward players will need to be at their best to break through a determined Burnley defence, though. Pogba is still searching for a defined role in the team, Ibrahimovic hasn’t scored in the Premier League since September 10 and Rashford has flashed in and out of games from a wide position.
As such, Mourinho may see this clash as an ideal chance to bring Mata back to league football. The Spaniard scored the winner against City, and he’s been a catalyst for positive results this term, as noted by Squawka Football:
While Burnley have enjoyed a strong start to the Premier League season following their promotion, they’ve struggled away from home.
All 10 points they’ve accrued so far have come at Turf Moor, while the three away games they’ve played have resulted in heavy defeats. It means a huge upturn in form and a different kind of tactical plan will need to be implemented if they’re to stand any chance of emerging with a victory.
Gray will provide a major threat on the break for the visitors, and that’s something United must be wary of. Still, while the Red Devils have been far from fluid lately, the chasm in quality between the two sides will ultimately show here.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Burnley
