Burnley recently put an end to a troubling streak of three successive multi-goal defeats in the Premier League (PL) with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest, albeit in controversial circumstances involving VAR. Despite being denied what could have been their first league win of the season, manager Vincent Kompany found enough positives to believe that more points are within reach. However, Burnley faces the challenge of shoring up the division’s leakiest defense, having conceded 12 goals so far, and halting a concerning three-game losing streak at their home ground, Turf Moor.
Burnley’s last home defeat streak of four matches dates back to the latter part of the 2020/21 season. As Burnley prepares to host old foes, Manchester United, Kompany may see this as an opportunity to embrace the challenge. Historically, this fixture has not been particularly fruitful for Burnley, with just two head-to-head victories since their 1-0 win in September 1968 over a Manchester United team that boasted European champions like George Best, Denis Law, and Bobby Charlton.
However, this current Manchester United team is a far cry from the heroes of Sir Matt Busby’s era. A recent 4-3 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich marked their third consecutive loss under the management of Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman publicly questioned his players’ determination following that loss and urged them to reflect on their defensive weaknesses. Manchester United’s alarming defensive record includes conceding three or more goals in three successive games for the first time since December 1978.
The negative records keep piling up for the Red Devils, as they have suffered four defeats in their first six matches across all competitions for the first time since the 1986/87 season. It’s worth noting that this season saw the managerial change from Ron Atkinson to the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. Out of those four defeats, three occurred away from home, and Manchester United’s longstanding travel struggles are evident. They have tasted defeat in 18 of their last 35 away matches in all competitions, with only 13 wins and four draws to counterbalance those losses. Interestingly, their recent trips to newly-promoted opponents have been relatively successful, as they have emerged victorious in each of their last five such away fixtures.
In terms of players to watch, with Lyle Foster suspended, Burnley will rely on Zeki Amdouni to shoulder the goalscoring responsibilities. Amdouni has shown a knack for scoring, with four of his last five club goals coming after halftime. On the other side, Rasmus Højlund, who found the net against Bayern Munich in midweek, has demonstrated a penchant for making an impact in the latter stages of matches, with ten of his last 11 goals being scored in the second half.
As Burnley seeks to capitalize on Manchester United’s defensive frailties and history at Turf Moor, the Red Devils aim to bounce back from their poor start to the season. The stage is set for an intriguing clash between two teams with contrasting form and ambitions, making this a must-watch fixture in the Premier League.
Remarkably, none of the last nine head-to-head encounters at Turf Moor have produced more than two total match goals, hinting at the potential for a tightly contested battle between Burnley and Manchester United.