Burnley vs Manchester United – Live Football Commentary (23/09/2023) Premier League League
A run of three successive multi-goal defeats came to a welcome end for Burnley in their latest Premier League (PL) outing, as the Clarets were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on Monday after VAR controversially denied them what would’ve been a first league win of the season. Manager Vincent Kompany saw “enough positives” to encourage him further points are on the way, but to progress they’ll quickly need to plug the division’s leakest defence (GA: 12) and arrest a three-game losing streak at Turf Moor.
They’ve not lost four in a row on home soil since the back end of the 2020/21 season, so perhaps Kompany will embrace the challenge of his old foes coming to town, as a wounded Manchester United make the short journey north. This hasn’t been a particularly fruitful fixture for Burnley down the years, with the Clarets winning just two H2Hs since a 1-0 victory back in September 1968 over a Red Devils outfit that were European champions and boasted an attack of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton!
This Manchester United is a far cry from Sir Matt Busby’s heroes, with a 4-3 defeat at Bayern Munich a third in succession for Erik ten Hag’s beleaguered outfit. The Dutchman questioned his players’ determination after that loss, and implored them to “look in the mirror” in a bid to fix their defensive frailties given United have now conceded 3+ goals in three successive games for the first time since December 1978.
The negative records just keep on coming for the Red Devils, who’ve lost four of their first six matches in all competitions for the first time since 1986/87, a season that saw Ron Atkinson replaced at the helm by Alex Ferguson. Three of those defeats have been on the road, and United’s travel sickness is long-standing, as they’ve tasted defeat in 18 of their last 35 away assignments in all competitions (W13, D4). A trip to newly-promoted opposition is probably welcome then, as they’ve won each of their last five such away fixtures.
Players to watch: With Lyle Foster suspended, Zeki Amdouni will be tasked with goalscoring responsibilities and four of his last five club strikes have arrived after half-time. Off the mark against Bayern in midweek, Rasmus Højlund also makes his impact late, netting ten of his last 11 goals in the second half of games.
Hot streak: None of the last nine H2Hs at Turf Moor have produced more than two total match goals.
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