Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between Burnley and
Manchester United at Turf Moor!
These are two out-of-form sides going head to head today, so the importance of getting back to winning ways is huge for both teams here, while defeat would leave plenty of questions going into the international break.
I will take a close look at both teams in a short while, but first things first - let's check out the team news!
BURNLEY STARTING XI: Hart; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Lennon, Cork, Hendrick, Westwood, McNeil; Wood
BURNLEY SUBS: Heaton, Lowton, Vokes, Barnes, Ward, Vydra, Long
MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Fellaini, Matic, Pogba; Lingard, Lukaku, Sanchez
MAN UTD SUBS: Grant, Bailly, Young, Herrera, Fred, Martial, Rashford
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, the headline news as far as Manchester United are concerned is that Alexis Sanchez returns to the starting lineup, having missed the last two games with a minor injury.
The Chilean has not hit his best form since his January move to Old Trafford, but he does boast an encouraging record against Burnley with four goals in his five Premier League appearances against the Clarets.
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It is no surprise to see that Mourinho's ill-fated three-and-the-back experiment has been disposed off after just one game, and it is Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling who get the nod at the heart of the defence today, with Bailly on the bench and Jones and Rojo both injured.
That defence has been very flimsy so far this season, highlighting United's failure to bring in a new centre-back during the transfer window, and there will be plenty of scrutiny on them again this afternoon.
Mourinho has used an unrivalled 22 players already this season, and he makes three more changes this afternoon from that defeat to Spurs on Monday night, with Marouane Fellaini joining Sanchez and Lindelof in coming into the team.
Jones and Herrera drop out for the visitors - the latter to the bench - while Fred is the man to make way in midfield as Mourinho opts for the increased physical presence of the Belgian. Martial and Rashford must also make do with a place on the bench too.
Romelu Lukaku was guilty of missing some gilt-edged chances during the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, but he once again leads the line this afternoon with Lingard and Sanchez in support.
The likes of Pogba and Fellaini will look to increase that attacking threat from midfield, but arguably United's best player this season has been Luke Shaw, who finally looks to have been brought in from the cold by Mourinho and has earned a place in the England squad as a result.
It is a United side short on confidence, but still possessing plenty of ability and
Sean Dyche will know that his side need to be at their best if they are to pour more misery on Mourinho and co today.
Dyche has had the unusual problem of needing to rotate his players due to their involvement in the Europa League this season, but today he makes his first changes to his Premier League XI having named the same starting lineup in their opening three games.
Indeed, Dyche makes three changes to his starting lineup from last weekend's defeat to Fulham, with Bardsley, Taylor and McNeil all coming into the side.
The trio featured during the Europa League draw with Olympiacos on Thursday night and Dyche was sufficiently impressed to keep them in his side for today's game. Teenager Dwight McNeil is perhaps the most notable inclusion, having shown signs of promise against the Greek outfit.
An injury to Johann Berg Gudmundsson is the reason behind McNeil's chance, but the other two changes are unforced ones with Lowton and Barnes both being dropped to the bench.
The likes of Joe Hart, James Tarkowski, Jack Cork and Chris Wood all come into the side having missed out in midweek, but there is no place for Gibson despite the defending being available after a European suspension ruled him out of the Europa League.
Burnley's main goal threat has come from James Tarkowski in the past couple of weeks, with the defender scoring in his last two games having never scored for the club before that.
Ben Mee alongside him can also be a danger from set pieces, which Burnley will need to make the most of this afternoon. The centre-back today will become only the second player - after Ashley Barnes - to make 100 Premier League appearances for Burnley.
It is a landmark match for Mee, then, and he will want to mark it by claiming the scalp of Manchester United and get his side's own campaign finally up and running for good.
Sean Dyche's men have not made a very promising start to their campaign so far, and last season's seventh-placed finishers come into today's match sitting 19th in the table, with only pointless West Ham United below them.
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Sean Dyche repeatedly insisted that his side were eager to embrace the challengers that came with Europa League football, but it has also perhaps served as a distraction and some fans may be secretly pleased their their first European campaign in 51 years ended before the group stages.
The Clarets beat Aberdeen and Istanbul Basaksehir to reach the playoff round, but a 4-2 aggregate defeat against Olympiacos saw them crash out just before the group stages.
Despite getting to the playoff round, Burnley are actually still winless inside normal time this season, with their two victories over Aberdeen and Istanbul Basaksehir coming via extra time.
Indeed, Burnley have not won a match inside 90 minutes since April 14 - a run of 14 matches across all competitions which include eight draws and six defeats.
On the domestic front, Burnley began their campaign with a goalless draw against Southampton, and that remains their solitary point so far this season following defeats to Watford and Fulham.
It is now eight Premier League games without a win for the Clarets, and just one point from the last 15 on offer stretching back to the end of last season. They may have surpassed all expectations by finishing seventh last term, but they are not a team in good form at the moment.
Indeed, Burnley are currently occupying a place in the relegation zone of the Premier League for the first time since August 16, which is worrying for Sean Dyche but also a sign of what good work they have done to keep themselves away from the drop in recent years.
There is more good news too, with Burnley usually rising to the challenge of being in the bottom three. The Clarets have won three and lost none of the last four games which they have begun in the relegation zone.
The usually-sturdy defence has been leaky in recent times for Burnley, though, conceding 14 goals in their last five Premier League outings - one more than in their previous 14 games combined.
Dyche's side also need to improve here at Turf Moor, having collected only nine points in front of their own fans this calendar year. Only Huddersfield and Southampton have won fewer of ever-presents in the top-flight during that time.
Both of Burnley's extra-time wins in the Europa League qualifying rounds came here at Turf Moor, but they also arrived after extra time and the Clarets have not beaten a team here inside 90 minutes in their last eight attempts.
A defeat today would see Burnley lose three Premier League games here in a row for the first time since January, and the omens are not great from last season, with Dyche's side picking up only one home point against the big six.
Burnley could, therefore, be an ideal opponent for United to get their own ship in gear, although defeat for the visitors this afternoon would heap more pressure and misery on the shoulders of
Jose Mourinho.
The United boss has been reminding everyone of his past achievements this week and declared himself still one of the greatest managers in the world - perhaps to deflect attention away from his side's poor form - but the United fans will judge him solely on his time at the club and, so far, that is not exactly going to plan.
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Reports of unrest behind the scenes at Old Trafford - with Ed Woodward and
Paul Pogba - have certainly not helped Mourinho's cause, but it is the results on the pitch which have really cranked up the pressure.
United come into this match off the back to successive defeats for the first time since May 2017, and another loss today would equal their club Premier League record of three on the bounce, which last occurred in December 2015.
It is already the first time that United have lost two of their opening three top-flight matches since 1992-93, and should they be beaten again this afternoon then it would make for their worst start to a campaign since they lost three of their first four under Ron Atkinson in 1986.
Even the match United did win was a little fortunate as they squeezed past Leicester on the opening day of the season, but they have since been beaten by Brighton and Tottenham.
United put in an abject display against Brighton en route to that 3-2 defeat, but Mourinho was pretty pleased with their performance against Spurs on Monday night, despite being condemned to his biggest ever home defeat.
The hosts had plenty of chances to break the deadlock at Old Trafford and were the better team in the first half, but quickfire goals from Harry Kane and Lucas Moura put Spurs in command before the latter added a second late on, completing Tottenham's biggest win at Old Trafford in 46 years.
United have conceded three goals in both of those defeats, then, and their goal difference of minus three is their worst since August 1992, when they had the same deficit after four games of the season.
This is the first time that they will go into a Premier League match with a negative goal difference since September 2014, and they have already conceded seven in their opening three league games for the first time in 39 years.
In short, it has been a pretty torrid start to the season for United, then, and their recent away form does not exactly suggest that all of their problems will be solved today.
Mourinho's side are winless in their last three away Premier League outings, during which time they have picked up only one point and lost twice to Brighton. Losing today would make it successive away defeats for the first time since February, and losses in their opening two away games of a top-flight season for the first time since 1973.
This is, incidentally, the first of three successive Premier League matches which also sees United take on Watford after the international break and then Young Boys for the start of their Champions League campaign.
Mourinho has won all 11 of his Premier League away games against teams managed by an Englishman since joining United, though, while Dyche is winless in six previous meetings with the Portuguese, losing all three previous home games.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Turf Moor, which means that it is for a prediction!
This is a difficult one to call between two teams in poor form, particularly with Burnley enjoying home advantage too. That hasn't helped them much recently, though, so I am going to go for a narrow away win.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Burnley 0-1 Manchester United
It is fair to say that Burnley don't have the best track record against United, having won just one of their last 25 meetings across all competitions stretching all the way back to 1968.
That run includes 17 top-flight meetings, during which time Burnley have drawn eight, lost eight and picked up a famous 1-0 win in their first ever Premier League meeting in August 2009.
Burnley are winless in seven matches since that 2009 triumph, and the solitary goal in that victory is also the only goal Burnley have scored against United here in the last 10 editions of this fixture at Turf Moor.
Incredibly, United have kept clean sheets in the other nine of their 10 most recent visits to Turf Moor, so the hosts may have their work cut out to even score today.
United could win three successive top-flight away games against Burnley for the first time ever, and it was Anthony Martial who proved to be the match-winner in the corresponding fixture last season.
The reverse fixture was a very entertaining affair, though, with United needing to come from two goals down at Old Trafford to rescue a late 2-2 draw.
Right, the players are out and we're just about to get going at Turf Moor! A reminder of the team news before we do get started...
BURNLEY STARTING XI: Hart; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Lennon, Cork, Hendrick, Westwood, McNeil; Wood
MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Fellaini, Matic, Pogba; Lingard, Lukaku, Sanchez
KICKOFF: We are underway at Turf Moor!
CLOSE! Good start to the game from United and they are inches away form breaking the deadlock early here! Lukaku and Sanchez combine to find Lingard, who works space to shoot before bending an effort just wide from inside the area.
SAVE! It is all United in these opening exchanges. Pogba knocks the ball to Shaw, who drills an effort towards goal which Hart gets down well to save.
United have started like a team desperate to make amends for that defeat on Monday night. Burnley are struggling to get into this one at the moment.
CHANCE! United come close again as Valencia drills a low cross into box which contains five United players. Lingard turns it goalwards, but his effort loops up and that allows Hart to claw the ball away.
SHOT! It will surely only be a matter of time before United open the scoring if they carry on like this.
Sanchez comes forward down the left before playing a square ball to Lingard in space, but the midfielder gets his 25-yard effort all wrong and fires it well off target when he should have done better.
Lingard is involved in everything for United at the moment and this time he pops up on the right flank before whipping a testing cross into the box which Hart does well to claim.
United are playing plenty of direct passes upfield today, with Mourinho seemingly telling his side to get back to the basics. There has been some really good movement off the ball from the visitors.
It is Ed Woodward, rather than
Jose Mourinho, who is the main target of the fans' ire at the moment. This banner was flown over Turf Moor this afternoon...
YELLOW CARD! Better from Burnley, who are beginning to grow into this game now. Bardsley gets down the right flank and is fouled by Sanchez, who becomes the first name in the book this afternoon.
Huge waste of a free kick from a good crossing position with McNeil putting his delivery straight over the crossbar.
Burnley seem to have weathered the early Manchester United storm and have now managed to stem the flow of shots on their goal, but it is still the visitors who are on top here.
Burnley are yet to have a shot on goal in the opening quarter of this match, and in truth they haven't even looked like testing De Gea at any point so far. The hosts need more in the final third.
United have not completely disposed of the back three idea - Fellaini is dropping in alongside Lindelof and Smalling on occasions, no doubt to provide more physicality up against Wood.
GOAL! BURNLEY 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED (ROMELU LUKAKU)
GOAL! Manchester United have the lead at Turf Moor, but it is far too easy for them.
United knock the ball around on the edge of the Burnley box with none of the defenders engaging the man in possession. Sanchez is given the space to dig out a cross, and he takes full advantage with a pinpoint delivery to the back post for Lukaku, who peels off his man to thumps his header past Hart.
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That is a deserved lead for United, but Dyche will not be happy that is came so easily at a time when his side had managed to battle their way back into the match.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche is unhappy with the treatment of Chris Wood at the moment, with Smalling tussling against the striker every time the ball goes forward. Dyche is making sure that the referee is aware of it.
Jose Mourinho's name rings out from the away end, who are keen to show their appreciation for the manager despite the team's poor recent form.
United come forward with a quick counter-attack and Sanchez plays the ball down the left for the overlapping Shaw. The full-back tries to fire a low cross into the box, but it takes a nick off a defender and Hart collects it.
CHANCE! Big chance for United to double their advantage, but Joe Hart makes a big save to deny Lukaku!
The Belgian leads the three-on-two attack before exchanges passes with Sanchez, whose return ball leaves Lukaku with only the keeper to beat. He tries to lift his finish over the onrushing Hart, but the keeper reads it and makes a good save from point-blank range.
The Burnley supporters are growing a little frustrated with their team here. They are not doing enough to disrupt United in possession and have made it pretty easy for the visitors so far.
United are in complete control of this game at the moment, and it is a very uncharacteristic display from the hosts so far. They are lacking their usual level of fatigue.
McNeil tries his luck from range - Burnley's first shot of the match - but it is heading well wide until Lindelof pokes it into the arms of De Gea.
GOAL! BURNLEY 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (ROMELU LUKAKU)
GOAL! Lukaku has his second of the afternoon as United double their advantage right on the stroke of half time!
Lingard's shot deflects kindly for Lukaku, who makes no mistake from close range to give Burnley a mountain to climb!
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: BURNLEY 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED
The first half comes to an end at Turf Moor, then, and it is Manchester United who are in complete control of this match courtesy of Romelu Lukaku's brace.
This looked as though to could be a difficult test for an out-of-form United side, but Burnley have made it far too easy for Mourinho's men so far. Sean Dyche will have plenty to say to his side in the break and he will be demanding an improvement.
The opening goal arrived shortly before the half-hour mark when Burnley's defenders gave Sanchez too much time to pick out a cross to the back post.
It was still a brilliant delivery from the Chilean, though, and Lukaku had peeled away from his marker before planting his header past the keeper.
Lukaku also got United's second just before half time, reacting quickest to a loose ball after Lingard's deflected shot had fallen kindly into his path.
Mee was playing the Belgian striker well onside, and he swept his finish beyond Hart, who could do nothing to prevent the goal.
Lukaku has also been thwarted by a fine save from Hart, while Lingard and Shaw have had sights of goal themselves.
United have been by far the better team in the opening 45 minutes, with Burnley barely engaging their visitors. It has been a strangely lacklustre performance from the home side.
KICKOFF: Burnley get us back underway for the second half at Turf Moor...
Sean Dyche sent his Burnley side out much earlier than United for this second half, so it will be interesting to see whether they will respond over the next 45 minutes. They offered absolutely nothing in that first half.
The hosts are already seeing more of the ball, but it is all coming in areas which will not hurt United. It is off the ball that Burnley have arguably been the most disappointing too.
YELLOW CARD! McNeil goes into the book for a cynical challenge on Lingard.
CHANCE! This is far too easy for United. A long free kick forward goes over the defence and finds Sanchez, who takes the ball down brilliant to leave himself through on goal. Tarkowski eventually gets back to make a crucial last-ditch challenge, but that was poor defending in the first place.
UPDATE: There is one other Premier League match taking place right now, and Spurs have just taken the lead against Watford through Abdoulaye Doucoure's own goal.
CHANCE! A difficult chance for Sanchez this, but a sight of goal nonetheless. Valencia swings a cross into the box from the right flank and Sanchez tries a first-time volley, but he slips while hitting it and it bobbles up comfortably into the arms of the keeper.
BURNLEY SUB: Burnley make a change here as Sam Vokes replaces Hendrick.
A Burnley free kick from deep is not fully cleared by United and falls to Cork, but the midfielder cannot get it under control and in the end fires his shot well off target.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB: Time for a United change as
Marcus Rashford replaces Sanchez.
CHANCE! Burnley have offered very little so far, so this will have to go down as a chance for them. A cross arrives from the left and Wood rises highest to meet it, but Smalling does just about enough to prevent him from getting the power on his header to test De Gea.
Burnley have just started to show one or two signs of a fightback here, but they still need a lot more if they are to drag themselves back into this match. In truth, they don't deserve anything from this one.
SAVE! Lukaku spreads a pass out to Shaw on the left channel and the full-back has a go from a tight angle, but Hart has his front post covered and parries the ball behind.
CHANCE! United create another sight of goal from the resulting corner, with a deep cross to the back post being met by Smalling, who could not direct his header on target.
PENALTY! Penalty to United as Rashford is brought down by Lennon!
PENALTY! SAVED BY JOE HART!
PENALTY! Lukaku may be on a hat-trick, but Pogba gets the penalty duties having scored twice already this season. The midfielder does his usual slow run-up, but Hart guesses right and makes a good save to deny him from the spot!
Big flash point here as Rashford goes head to head with Bardsley, reacting angrily following a challenge from the Burnley man!
RED CARD! MARCUS RASHFORD (MANCHESTER UNITED)
RED CARD! Bardsley is shown a yellow card, but Rashford sees red having made the initial lunge with his head.
Rashford was angered by a small kick out by Bardsley and there was a definite movement of his head towards Bardsley's. Jonathan Moss shows him a straight red card, and he can't have many complaints.
How big could that moment be? United have missed a penalty and had a man sent off in the last few minutes - some hope for Burnley, perhaps?
CHANCE! Big chance for Lukaku to get his hat-trick as he goes for goal from the left side of the area, but Hart is quick out to him and makes another important save!
YELLOW CARD! This game has really burst into life here! Burnley go straight up the other end and Lennon is hacked down by Shaw, who goes into the book. Lukaku is also shown a yellow for an earlier challenge on Bardsley.
CHANCE! The resulting free kick is hammered into the box and hits the head of Vokes, but he cannot control it enough to steer it home from close range.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB: Another change from the visitors as Ander Herrera replaces Lingard.
CHANCE! Huge chance for United to put this game to bed, and for Lukaku to get his hat-trick!
The striker bursts clean through on goal and takes the ball around the keeper, but Mee makes a last-ditch challenge to deny a certain goal! Lukaku wants another penalty - and he has a point - but the referee only awards a goal kick.
BURNLEY SUB: Another change for the hosts as Ashley Barnes replaces McNeil.
CHANCE! Burnley have their best chance of the match so far as a deep cross is met by Vokes, who gets decent power on his downward header but sees his effort saved by De Gea.
SHOT! Pogba plucks the ball out of the sky with a lovely touch inside the box and immediately swivels and shoots, but his effort goes wide of the far post.
BURNLEY SUB: A third and final change from Burnley as Matej Vydra replaces Wood.
Mee falls over when trying to live with the pace of Lukaku, and the Burnley defender falls on the ball with his hand to take it away from the striker, who would have been clean through on goal. It could well be a red card, but Jon Moss only awards a throw-in. Mourinho cannot quite believe it!
United have been in decent control of this match even with 10 men. Burnley could have made things a lot more difficult for the visitors, but this has been an accomplished and professional display from Mourinho's side since going down to 10.
There will be a minimum of four minutes added time at the end of this match.
CHANCE! A couple of chances in quick succession for the hosts as first Vokes sees his header punched away by De Gea before the ball is played back into the middle, where Vydra flashes his header past the near post.
MANCHESTER UNITED SUB: A final change from United as Eric Bailly replaces Pogba.
SAVE! Lukaku nods the ball out to the left for Herrera, whose shot from a tight angle is comfortably saved by Hart.
FULL TIME: BURNLEY 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED
It is a successful return to winning ways for Manchester United, then, as they run out comfortable 2-0 winners over Burnley despite having a man sent off and missing a penalty.
Romelu Lukaku's first-half brace was ultimately the difference between the two sides, but it could have been much worse for the Clarets too. The hosts were poor this afternoon and can have no complaints at coming away from this one with nothing. They remain winless this season!
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's match as United return to winning ways at the expense of Burnley. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
