Manchester United will take on Burnley on the 7th of January at Turf Moor.
Manchester United will be looking to start the post-Ruben Amorim era with three points when they travel to face relegation-threatened Burnley on Wednesday night. The Portuguese manager was sacked on Monday morning, just hours after his explosive press conference following the 1-1 draw at Leeds United.
Following that draw at Elland Road on Sunday, which saw Matheus Cunha rescue a point for United, the Red Devils sit sixth in the Premier League table with 29 points from 20 games. They are level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea and just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, meaning a top-four spot remains very much within reach.
Their opponents, Burnley, are in desperate trouble. The Clarets sit 19th in the table with just 12 points from 20 matches, six points from safety. Scott Parker’s side have been winless in 11 Premier League games, losing nine of those matches. They last won at the end of October and have picked up just two points from their last 33 available.
That said, here is how Manchester United could lineup against Burnley.
Predicted Manchester United lineup vs. Burnley
Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens
The young Belgian has been a regular starter since his arrival and will continue between the sticks. Lammens has provided United with composure and stability, making crucial saves in recent matches including his double stop against Bournemouth that prevented a 5-4 defeat at Old Trafford.
Defence: Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw
Interim boss Darren Fletcher is expected to move away from Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation and deploy a back four. Matthijs de Ligt remains a doubt with back pain, while Harry Maguire is still nursing a thigh injury. This means Yoro and Martinez will continue their partnership at centre-back. Shaw slots in at left-back with the experienced Dalot on the right.
Midfield: Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte
Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount both trained ahead of the match after recovering from their respective injuries. Fletcher revealed that the midfield pair were pushing to play against Leeds but the decision was made that they weren’t quite ready. However, their minutes would need to be managed with another game to come at the weekend against Brighton in the FA Cup. This means Casemiro and Ugarte are likely to start as the double pivot, providing defensive stability and ball progression.
Attack: Patrick Dorgu, Joshua Zirkzee, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko
Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui remain at the Africa Cup of Nations and will be unavailable. Kobbie Mainoo is still out with a calf injury sustained in training. Fletcher appears set to field a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Zirkzee operating as the number 10 behind striker Sesko. Cunha, who scored against Leeds, will start on the left wing with Dorgu on the right. The Slovenian striker will be desperate to end his goal drought and rediscover the form that made him such a threat earlier in the season.