Burnley vs Man Utd - Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

Date: Saturday, August 30 | Venue: Turf Moor | K/O: 12.45pm GMT

Team News

Burnley manager Sean Dyche will restore a number of first team players to his starting line-up after resting a series of stars during Wednesday's League Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. With the exception of Sam Vokes, Dyche will have a fully-fit squad to choose from as Manchester United visit Turf Moor. England's most expensive player Angel Di Maria could make his debut for the visitors. Di Maria became a British transfer record signing when he joined United earlier this week for £59.7 million, and all eyes will be on the Argentinian here. His international teammate Marcos Rojo could be left waiting for a debut of his own however as he has still not received his work permit.

Key Stats

Manchester United's last top-flight away win at Burnley came in April 1976. One point from two games is United's worst start to a league campaign since the inaugural Premier League season of 1992-93, when they lost both of their opening matches but still won the title. Burnley have kept only three clean sheets in 40 Premier League games, but one of them came at home to Manchester United. New signing Angel Di Maria has assisted 11 goals in his last 11 league appearances and finished last season with 17 La Liga assists - four more than any other player. Only Messi (57) has provided more assists than Di Maria (49) in La Liga since the start of the 2010-11 season The Clarets have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 29 Premier League games since a 2-0 win at home against Hull City on 31 October 2009. (BBC)

Likely Line-Ups

Burnley Heaton, Arfield, Mee, Jones, Shackell, Marney, Trippier, Ings, Taylor, Jutkiewicz, Duff Man Utd De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Evans, Fletcher, Cleverley, Valencia, Di Maria, Mata, Rooney, Van Persie

Match Preview

Both Burnley and Manchester United crashed out of the Capital One Cup midweek but there's little questioning which had the biggest impact. Following a start to the Premier League season that has yielded just one point from six, you felt things couldn't get worse for United. Then came their 4-0 drubbing by Milton Keynes. It was a result that sent shockwaves through English football and marked the first time United have conceded four goals in a League Cup match against lower-league opposition in their history. Just a few hours prior, the Red Devils announced the signing of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid and it will be hoped he can transform their fortunes out on the pitch this weekend. Di Maria is expected to make his debut for his new side after becoming a British transfer record breaking signing and the spotlight will be shining squarely on the Argentinian at Turf Moor in Saturday's early kick-off. But if United fans were hoping he could help sink the Clarets they could be in for a surprise. United's last top-flight away win at Burnley came in April 1976 and Burnley beat the Reds 1-0 on the opening day of the 2009-10 Premier League season. This is the 121st meeting between the sides with United winning 57 times to Burnley's 44, and these encounters aren't often the rollovers you might expect. Still, it would be inconceivable to envisage United slipping up again... Wouldn't it? We're going for an away win and are backing van Gaal to get his first win on the board since succeeding from David Moyes, though it might not be an easy ride. Prediction: 1-2
Contributor
Contributor

Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.