Burnley vs. Man United
Venue: Turf Moor
Kick off: 2:15PM
Manchester United take on Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday (today) looking to maintain their unbeaten run of form in the Premier League, which has seen them go 22 matches without tasting defeat.
Too many draws have cost the Red Devils any hope of winning the title in Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge, however, with all focus now simply on finishing in one of the coveted top-four spots.
Barring a late collapse, combined with a serious upturn in fortunes for the sides below them, Burnley will be present in the Premier League for successive seasons for the first time come next August.
Burnley find themselves 14th in the table and now eight points clear of the drop zone and, with West Bromwich Albion their toughest assignment to come after this weekend’s round of matches, you would back them to get over the line with ease.
United’s streak of 22 games without defeat in the top flight is the division’s longest run since their own tally of 24 in 2010-11, but a quick glance at the table shows that it does not quite tell the whole story.
United face a daunting final run-in to what has been a gruelling campaign, taking in 27 matches since Christmas alone, as they face City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the final four weeks, all of whom are also still battling to hit their respective targets for the season.
The good news for those making the 28-mile journey from Manchester to Burnley today is that United, in stark contrast to their home form, boast the division’s best points-per-game record on their travels – nine wins, three losses and two draws.
Furthermore, they could score three times in an away match for a fourth league game in succession for the first time in 17 years, having brushed aside Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Leicester City in recent weeks, conceding just once in the process.
Burnley Possible XI: Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Boyd, Barton, Defour, Brady, Barnes, Gray.
Man U Possible XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Blind, Young, Fellaini, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard, Rooney, Rashford.