Before the season began, Burnley were the second-favourites for relegation behind Huddersfield Town. Now, they are 7th in the league table, level on points with both Arsenal and Liverpool 12 games into the new season.
On Sunday they host Arsenal, looking to make it four wins on the bounce without even conceding a goal. Should they bag the three points at Turf Moor they will leapfrog their opponents and could go as into the top four. That’s little old Burnley, challenging for the Champions League spots in the richest league of all.
So, can the Clarets maintain their stunning form, do the unthinkable and break into the top six?
The key part of Burnley’s success during the past few years has been manager Sean Dyche. Having been tipped to leave the club multiple times this season, Dyche has not let the rumours distract him from the job in hand and instead, Burnley have gone from strength to strength.
He has assembled a squad of hard-working, talented but modest players who are willing to put the team ahead of their own personal gain. With a solid back four, there are certain similarities that can be drawn between this Burnley side and the Leicester City side that famously shocked the world when they won the Premier League in 2015/16.
There were no huge names in that Leicester side when the season began but by the end, names like N’golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy were household names. Now, nobody is catching Manchester City this season for the title, yet alone Burnley, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make some history of their own.
A rock-solid defence is what their success is built on. They have conceded the third-least goals this season behind both Manchester clubs which is a testament to the attitude Dyche’s defenders have. Ben Mee and James Tarkowski have formed a stunning partnership at the back whilst Jack Cork’s performances in the middle of the park have been so consistent that he earnt himself an unexpected England call-up.
Up top, Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes have exceeded expectations with their goals and work-rate this season.
The hope for Burnley heading into a tough run of fixtures is that they have they have faced Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City already this season and only lost once. That was away at the Etihad where almost every team will be beaten this season.
If they can keep their heads and maintain focus during these busy winter months, there is no reason they can’t come out the other side with a real chance of finishing in the top six.
