Burnley vs Manchester United Predictions

• Burnley have failed to win any of their last 11 games, losing nine times
• Manchester United have lost only two of their last 14 matches
• Both teams have scored in 11 of United’s last 13 outings

Managerless Red Devils can battle beyond Burnley

Manchester United sacked manager Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge on Monday morning, so Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against relegation-threatened Burnley while the hunt for a new boss gets underway.

Just when the Red Devils finally looked to be showing some signs of progress despite dealing with a depleted squad, Amorim was given the boot after a supposed power struggle with the hierarchy over their transfer policy.

Manchester United sit sixth after 20 games, level on 31 points with Chelsea, and are only three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool despite enduring back-to-back 1-1 draws with Wolves and Leeds.

The performance against Wolves at Old Trafford was woeful but they were much better in Sunday’s draw at Elland Road, especially when you consider that Leeds are now unbeaten in seven top-flight matches which includes victory over Chelsea and two draws with Liverpool.

The Red Devils are still without influential captain Bruno Fernandes while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo remain on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations duty, which has taken away a lot of their attacking intent.

With Mason Mount having also spent a recent spell on the sidelines, Amorim was forced to get inventive with his team selection so a dip in intensity should have always been envisaged.

Clarets looking destined for the drop

It will be interesting to see how United react to Amorim’s departure but Fletcher couldn’t have asked for a better opening game to step in for, as second-bottom Burnley are six points adrift of safety and winless in 11.

The Clarets have lost nine of those games and six of their ten league fixtures at Turf Moor have ended in defeat, with Scott Parker’s side scoring only eight goals.

Manchester United left it late to secure a 3-2 victory at home to Burnley at the end of August – Fernandes scored a 97th-minute penalty to land the spoils – and the Red Devils may have to rely on another high-scoring win.

Both teams have scored in nine of United’s ten away league games this season and that will offer some hope to the Clarets, whose precarious position has seen them play with a bit more freedom.

Parker’s men have seen the net bulge at both ends in four of their last six matches, which includes home defeats to Fulham and Newcastle in December, and a much weakened United are hardly watertight.

Two of United’s three away league wins, at Liverpool and Crystal Palace, finished 2-1 and that could be the way to go for correct-score punters given the lively nature of the Red Devils’ Premier League matches this season.