Preview: Manchester United vs. Burnley (LIVE on Viasat1)
Jose Mourinho is in desperate need of three points as Manchester United welcome Burnleyto Old Trafford on Saturday. A run of three Premier League games without victory has threatened to derail their title bid and Sean Dyche’s team, fresh off the back of a morale-boosting victory against Everton, will smell blood.
The visitors have not won at Old Trafford since a 5-2 victory in September 1962. However, despite losing all three of their away matches so far this season Burnley could ruffle United’s feathers in front of an anxious crowd.
Viasat1 will, courtesy Kwese Free Sports, telecast this live match to viewers in Ghana, starting at 1:30pm and kick-off at 2:00pm.
A quick look at the form guide suggests this match could go either way:
| (W) Man Utd 1-0 Man City (EFL Cup) | (W) Burnley 2-1 Everton (EPL) |
| (L) Chelsea 4-0 Man Utd (EPL) | (L) Southampton 3-1 Burnley (EPL) |
| (W) Man Utd 4-1 Fernerbahce (EL) | (L) Burnley 0-1 Arsenal (EPL) |
| (D) Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd (EPL) | (W) Burnley 2-0 Watford (EPL) |
| (D) Man Utd 1-1 Stoke (EPL) | (L) Leicester 3-0 Burnley (EPL) |
Sky Sports
Preview
Mourinho fielded a full-strength team for Wednesday’s Manchester derby in the hope of regaining some momentum. His side beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 1-0 in the EFL Cup fourth round, handing United their first win in October against English opposition. Burnley, meanwhile, will be well rested and in buoyant mood following Scott Arfield’s late winner at Turf Moor on Oct. 22.
“It was a good performance, a very authentic performance,” Dyche said after the match, as per Alan Jewell for BBC. “We know we have to work for everything we get, and I thought that was on show today. The two goals, though, they were both real quality.”
They might have even more reasons to be cheerful by Saturday evening. Dyche’s feisty team tend to play in a deep-lying and narrow defensive shape that limits space in the centre of the pitch, and their hassling and harrying of United’s midfielders could unsettle Paul Pogba. The Frenchman is still struggling to find his feet in English football.
As tension mounts inside Old Trafford, Burnley may sense an opportunity to steal the points, just as they did in a famous 1-0 win against Sir Alex Ferguson’s United team in August 2009. They stunned the champions that day with a solitary Robbie Blake goal in front over 20,000 fans at Turf Moor.
However, Mourinho has plenty of options available and should be able to avoid another disastrous performance.
Juan Mata looked lively in the second half against Chelsea last weekend and may be in line for a start after scoring the winner vs. City, while Michael Carrick’s 90 minutes in midweek suggests he is back in contention for a first-team place. His composure from the base of midfield could help United control the game in spite of Burnley’s efforts, and he appears to be in high spirits following the victory against their city rivals:
All about the win tonight..
love nights like that.
Noise level went through the roof. Thank you
