Burnley v Manchester United predictions: Expect a gritty contest at Turf Moor

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Burnley v Manchester United in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Manchester United to win 1-0
1pt 13-2 bet365

Team news

Burnley
Josh Brownhill is back from a ban but Matej Vydra, Ashley Barnes and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are sidelined and Charlie Taylor is a doubt.

Manchester United
Alex Telles and Fred have tested positive for Covid-19. Eric Bailly is expected to miss out again but Victor Lindelof could return and Paul Pogba is in line for his first Premier League appearance since October.

Match preview

Burnley and Manchester United are both aiming to bounce back from disappointing results last week but everything points to an attritional contest when the clubs meet in the Premier League at Turf Moor.

United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Middlesbrough on Friday, losing 8-7 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils can consider themselves unfortunate as they had 30 attempts on goal, including a missed penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, and claimed that Boro's equaliser should have been disallowed due to a handball in the build-up.

However, the fourth-round cup defeat robbed United boss Ralf Rangnick of his best chance of silverware this season and increased the pressure on the German to deliver a top-four finish in the league.

For Rangnick's opposite number Sean Dyche, finishing 17th is the sole target and Burnley were unable to boost their survival hopes in Saturday's goalless draw with fellow strugglers Watford.

The Hornets had not kept a clean sheet in any of their first 20 league games of the campaign while Dyche was able to unleash top scorer Maxwel Cornet, recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, and Wout Weghorst, the Netherlands striker signed from Wolfsburg on transfer deadline day.

However, Burnley fans hoping to witness a second league win of the season were left disappointed following a poor display in difficult conditions which saw the Clarets muster only two shots on target against Roy Hodgson's Watford.

That was a fourth 0-0 draw for Burnley in their last seven matches, following stalemates against Wolves, West Ham and Arsenal, and they are unlikely to be swept aside by a disjointed United outfit.

They lost 3-1 at Old Trafford in their final game of 2021, with all the goals coming in an uncharacteristically entertaining first half, but have scored only twice in eight meetings with top-eight teams and may struggle to land a blow on the visiting defence.

Rangnick's reign at United began with unconvincing 1-0 league wins over Crystal Palace and Norwich and that result is a tempting correct-score bet at Turf Moor.

Marcus Rashford's late goal gave them a 1-0 victory at home to West Ham just before the Premier League's mini-winter break and it is hard to see them cutting loose against a determined but limited Burnley side.

Paul Pogba, not seen in the league since he was sent off during October's 5-0 rout by Liverpool at Old Trafford, returned from injury against Middlesbrough.

As several United managers can testify, though, the Frenchman's availability is not a shortcut to attacking fluency and Rangnick's men may have to work hard and be patient if they are to grind out a win over the top flight's bottom club.

Key stat

Three of Manchester United's five league wins under Ralf Rangnick have been by a 1-0 margin.

Inside info

Burnley

Penalty taker Wout Weghorst
Free-kick wizard Dwight McNeil
Set-piece aerial threat Wout Weghorst
Card magnet James Tarkowski

Manchester United

Penalty taker Bruno Fernandes/Cristiano Ronaldo
Free-kick wizard Bruno Fernandes/Cristiano Ronaldo
Set-piece aerial threat Harry Maguire
Card magnet Harry Maguire

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