Preview: Manchester United v Burnley; Kick-off: December 26, 15:00; Venue: Old Trafford; Referee: Martin Atkinson
Manchester United will look to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome high-flying Burnley to Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
United were within seconds of beating Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday night, only for Harry Maguire to come up with a 94th-minute leveller for the Foxes as Jose Mourinho’s side threw away two vital points in the final moments.
Juan Mata’s double had seen United turn the match around after Jamie Vardy’s 27th-minute goal, but Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford all missed big chances for the visitors before they conceded with virtually the final kick of the match.
The result has left second-placed United 13 points behind leaders Manchester City, who won their 17th straight league game against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. It appears that Pep Guardiola’s side will run away with the title this season, but United are three points clear of third-placed Chelsea as things stand.
A record of 13 wins, three draws and three defeats from 19 matches is far from a disastrous record, but conceding late at 10-man Leicester would have hurt Mourinho, who refused to hide his frustration after the match.
“We didn't win because we missed incredible chances. I would say joke chances. We made a big defensive accumulation of mistakes in an easy match to win,” Mourinho told reporters.
United have won eight of their nine home Premier League matches this season – scoring 22 times and conceding just three. Only City have beaten the Red Devils at Old Trafford in the league since Southampton recorded a 1-0 victory in January 2016.
The 20-time English champions will finish 2017 with a home game against Southampton on Saturday afternoon, before travelling to Everton on New Year’s Day. Mourinho will be demanding six points from those two matches ahead of the third round of the FA Cup against Derby County on January 5.
It has not been a good week for United when considering that they were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Bristol City on December 20 - potentially leaving just the Champions League and FA Cup as attainable trophies this season.
Burnley, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon. The Clarets were second best against Spurs, but there is no doubting that it has been a terrific first half of the season for Sean Dyche’s side.
They have won nine, drawn five and lost five of their 19 fixtures this season to sit seventh – five points ahead of eighth-placed Leicester. Dyche’s team are only two points off sixth-placed Arsenal, and they have won four of their nine away Premier League games this season – losing just twice in the process.
Only City, Chelsea and United have conceded fewer Premier League goals than Burnley (15) this season, while the Clarets have only shipped nine goals on the road, which is among the best records in the division.
Burnley’s position in the table is even more incredible when considering that they have only scored 16 Premier League goals this season, which is the same number as 16th-placed Crystal Palace, and just two more than 19th-placed West Bromwich Albion, who have been struggling for some time.
Tuesday will bring just the seventh Premier League meeting between these two teams, and United have won three of the previous six - losing just once. Burnley have not beaten the Red Devils away from home since a 5-2 victory in September 1962, but they did hold United to a goalless draw in the corresponding Premier League game at Old Trafford last season.
Team news
Chris Smalling picked up a groin problem in the latter stages of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester, and the centre-back is expected to miss out alongside Antonio Valencia, who is still struggling with a hamstring strain.
Marcos Rojo could come into the defence alongside Phil Jones, while Luke Shaw is pushing for a spot at left-back, which would see Ashley Young switch to the opposite side.
Mata’s brace against Leicester is expected to see the Spaniard keep his spot in the XI, while Rashford could replace Lingard.
Romelu Lukaku had arguably his best overall game for United last time out, and the Belgian will lead the line once again as he goes in search of his 11th Premier League goal of the 2017-18 campaign.
As for Burnley, key centre-back James Tarkowski will once again miss out through suspension, while former United goalkeeper Tim Heaton is still on the sidelines with a shoulder problem.
Robbie Brady is also still sidelined, while Stephen Ward will face a late fitness test. Jonathan Walters, however, is making progress in his recovery from a knee injury, and could feature in the Premier League for the first time since August.
Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes are forward options for the visitors, but it is thought that Chris Wood will again lead the line.
Expected starting lineups
United: De Gea; Young, Jones, Rojo, Shaw; Matic, Pogba; Martial, Mata, Rashford; Lukaku
Burnley: Pope; Bardsley, Long, Mee, Ward; Arfield, Cork, Defour, Gudmundsson; Hendrick; Wood
Did you know?
United are six points better off than they were at this stage of the 2016-17 campaign. Indeed, last season, Mourinho’s side were sixth in the Premier League table on Christmas Day having won just 10 of their 19 league fixtures.
Prediction
United will be desperate to return to winning ways following the disappointment of the Leicester result, and they should have more than enough to overcome an understrength Burnley team at Old Trafford on Tuesday afternoon.
Score prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Burnley
