Burnley vs Manchester United Prediction: The Darren Fletcher era begins

Burnley welcome a very different Manchester United to Turf Moor on Wednesday, January 7 (20:15, Sky Sports Premier League). Darren Fletcher’s Manchester United to be exact, with the midfield legend taking over after Monday’s departure of head coach Ruben Amorim.
How will the Clarets get on against United’s new caretaker manager? Find out our take in the Burnley vs Manchester United predictions with the latest match odds and team news.
Burnley vs Manchester United Betting Tips
*odds correct at time of publication
Team News
Burnley are suffering from a real injury crisis at present. Josh Cullen and Zeki Amdouni are waylaid by knee injuries. Connor Roberts is set to miss out with a calf complaint while Joe Worrall and Zian Flemming are carrying muscle injuries. Jordan Beyer is set to miss out too with a hamstring problem.
The Clarets are also unable to call upon a brace of former Red Devils. Axel Tuanzebe and Hannibal Mejbri are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
United’s first lineup under temporary head coach Fletcher could be bolstered by the return of Bruno Fernandes. The Old Trafford club have toiled without their talisman and captain. The Portuguese midfielder’s comeback would be a steadying boost at a turbulent time for United.
A less-heralded but incredibly-important cog in United’s machine this season has been Mason Mount. The maligned midfielder has played his best football in a red shirt this season. Mount is expected to be available for the short trip to Turf Moor. But will his impact be as great if Fletcher moves to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation? The former Chelsea man has excelled in a narrow front three, but a re-shuffle may blunt his effectiveness.
United are still without Afcon trio Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui. The return of that triple threat will be a huge boon to whoever is in the Red Devils dugout for the remainder of the season.
Burnley vs Manchester United Predicted Lineups
- Burnley: Dubravka; Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Pires; Ugochukwu, Florentino, Laurent; Edwards, Broja, Anthony
- Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Dorgu, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Burnley vs Manchester United Odds
Despite the Old Trafford turbulence, Burnley are 4/1 outsiders to win at Turf Moor on Wednesday night. The re-shuffling Reds are 7/10 to prevail while you can back the draw at 3/1.
If you fancy Bruno to score on his United return, the Portugal international is 7/4 for an anytime goal. The away side are 10/3 to win both halves and 2/1 for a victory to nil.
Burnley vs Manchester United Stats
- Every caretaker or interim manager Manchester United have appointed since Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2013 retirement has won their first game in charge. Ryan Giggs, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (initially hired as interim before permanent contract), Ralf Rangnick, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy all opened their account with victories.
- In a piece of unfortunate symmetry, at press time Burnley have both the third-least goals scored and third-most goals conceded in the Premier League.
United to win from behind @ 15/2
What is more Manchester United than a comeback? While it will not rival 1999 at the Nou Camp for significance, I can see Fletcher’s fledglings needing to right the ship after an uncertain start in Lancashire.
Fletcher is expected to line up very differently to Amorim’s controversial 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 melange. While a move away from the Portuguese’s restrictive formation is needed, it will still require a period of adjustment. A period I feel the goal-shy Clarets will seize upon. After all, United’s record of 30 goals conceded is the worst outside the bottom-five.
But I think the Red Devils will find solace here. Burnley are poor defensively and in a desperately bad run of 11 games without a win. Scott Parker’s spiraling side will struggle even against a rudderless Reds.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
Cunha to score anytime @ 13/10
Mocked by rival fans for his perceived lack of output, seasoned United watchers know what the former Wolves forward brings. Unbelievable with his feet, a capable finisher and with a creative eye that opens up the game for his teammates; Cunha has the ingredients to be a big part of United’s near-future.
Four goals and one assist in 17 games is not the sort of output that propels someone’s FPL team to the top of the league. But Cunha is part of everything good United do in an attacking sense. With Mbeumo and Amad away at Afcon, Fernandes feeling his way back from a rare injury and Benjamin Sesko flattering to deceive; I believe Cunha is best-placed to take advantage of Burnley’s barren backline.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
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