Game Week 21 Predictions: United must beat Burnley again

Premier League preview: Burnley vs Man Utd at Turf Moor – United sans sacked Amorim (Fletcher leads), Burnley relegation fight; verdict United win.

Manchester United begins life after Ruben Amorim as Darren Fletcher leads them to Turf Moor on Wednesday night. How will this play out? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Burnley vs Manchester United

Turf Moor Stadium

9:15pm

It’s a day of total football, and what a way to end it. This fixture at Turf Moor means so much to both sides for different reasons; they both must go for the win.

Manchester United will prosecute this game without Ruben Amorim, who was shown the exit door on Monday following an indifferent run of results, and his outburst in his last presser reeks of arrogance and delusion; Darren Fletcher will lead the Red Devils to this battle of Turf Moor.

Burnley is in a bad place. The Clarets are deep in the relegation fight, and it doesn’t look like they have anything to offer the top flight. Scott Parker has now established himself as a standard Championship league manager and isn’t even expected to be fired by Burnley.

Burnley is now nine points off safety, and you wonder if there’s any quality at all in their squad to help them out of their predicament. The January window can be a get-out-of-jail card for teams; however, is the Burnley hierarchy interested in improving their squad?

The relegation battle this season is looking pretty straightforward, and Burnley is making that easier. The three newly-promoted sides have gone down in the two previous seasons; however, Sunderland and Leeds are proving to change that narrative. Wolves and Burnley have taken their spots in the red zone.

For Manchester United, former club star Fletcher could bring stability and simple solutions. The chaos that characterised the reigns of Ruben Amorim can now be a thing of the past, but our understanding is that the club is speaking to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick for a caretaker role.

If Manchester United manages to win this one, they will go joint fourth on the log with Liverpool; they’ve had this chance many times that they have passed on. Playing against a team that looks doomed for the drop, is there a chance the Red Devils can finally start working things out?

Burnley can spring surprises here. They have nothing to lose. Manchester United’s first win of this season was a win at Old Trafford against the Clarets, but it was fortuitous, as Jayden Anthony brought down Amad Diallo with the game destined to end 2-2.

No Amad Diallo for this one, as he’s currently tearing opponents apart at AFCON. Bryan Mbeumo and Noussir Mazraoui are also away on national duties; however, Manchester United will welcome back Bruno Fernandes and Mathijs De Ligt.

Verdict: Straight win for United.