Burnley vs Sheffield United Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Burnley will look to end their six-match-long losing streak in the Premier League when they host Sheffield United.

Burnley and Sheffield United will be in search of their second win in the Premier League when they square up against each other on Saturday. While it is still quite early in the season, this fixture could still end up playing a big role in the fight for survival.

Burnley sit at the bottom of the points table with just four points out of their 13 matches. They have already lost 11 matches in the ongoing season, and things have not gone according to plan for them. The home team are currently on a seven-match losing streak in all competitions.

Their only league win came back in October against Luton Town. Vincent Kompany’s team are heading into this fixture on the back of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham United. They might not have won, but it was a decent performance, and they will look for something similar against Sheffield United.

The visitors are 18th on the points table with five points out of their 13 matches. They have also won just once this season while suffering ten defeats. They have been winless in their last two league outings and will look to secure their second win against Burnley.

Sheffield United’s only win of the season came against Wolves at the start of November. Meanwhile, they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.

The Cherries were the better team on the night and ended up coming out on top. The visitors will look for an improved performance against Kompany’s team. Meanwhile, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.

Team News & Tactics

Burnley

Vincent Kompany will be without the services of Lyle Foster and Jack Cork. Foster has taken time off because of mental health reasons, while Cork is out injured. Arijanet Muric is battling an infection but is expected to be back in time for this fixture.

Burnley will stick to the 4-4-2 formation, where James Trafford will be in goal. Vitinho and Charlie Taylor will continue as the full-backs. Meanwhile, in the heart of the defence, Dara O’Shea will pair up with Jordan Beyer.

The back four will look to ensure they keep a clean sheet at home this time around, having failed to do so in the Premier League so far. Sander Berge and Josh Brownhill will be the two central midfielders. They will look to dictate the pace of the game and ensure they have the majority of the ball.

Luca Koleosho and Johann Berg Gudmundsson will provide width to their attacks. They will feature out wide in the centre of the park and will also look to help out their full-backs when needed. Jay Rodriguez and Zeki Amdouni will lead the line for Burnley.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Trafford; Vitinho, O’Shea, Beyer, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Berge, Brownhill, Koleosho; Amdouni, Rodriguez

Sheffield United

The visitors will be without the services of Rhys Norrington-Davies, John Egan, Max Lowe, Chris Basham, Tom Davies, Daniel Jebbison and Rhian Brewster for this fixture against Burnley.

Sheffield United will go ahead with the 3-5-2 formation, where Wes Foderingham will be in goal. The back three will be made up of Anel Ahmedhodzic, Auston Trusty, and Jack Robinson. The trio will have the support of Luke Thomas and George Baldock, who will start out wide as the wing-backs.

The wing-backs will look to join the attack at every possible opportunity. But their primary focus will be on helping their defence keep their first clean sheet in the ongoing Premier League season.

In the centre of the park, Vinicius Souza will have the support of Oliver Norwood and Gustavo Hamer. The trio will look to force the opposition onto the back foot by dictating the pace of this game. As far as the attack is concerned, Cameron Archer will pair up with Oliver McBurnie.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson; Baldock, Souza, Norwood, Hamer, Thomas; Archer, McBurnie

Key Stats

• Burnley and Sheffield United will square up against each other for the 130th time this Saturday. The visitors have the upper hand with 52 wins, while the home team only has 45 wins to their name.
• The hosts came out on top by a scoreline of 2-0 when the two teams met last time out.
• Both teams are yet to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
• Burnley’s numbers up top are not good enough as they have only scored ten goals and have the worst record in the league in front of goal.
• Sheffield United have the worst defensive record in the ongoing season, having conceded 34 goals in the league.

Player to Watch

Oliver McBurnie

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Oliver McBurnie is back in the mix after recovering from his injury, and he will be eager to get himself on the scoresheet when he squares up against Burnley. The 27-year-old Scottish striker has three goal contributions in his seven league outings, and he will look to add to it on Saturday night.

Sheffield United will look to push for their second win of the season, and McBurnie’s performances up top will play a big role in the end result of the game.

Prediction

Burnley 1-1 Sheffield United

Both teams have struggled in the 2023/24 Premier League campaigns so far, winning one out of their 13 league games. Burnley has struggled to score goals, while Sheffield United have struggled to keep things tight at the back.

The home team have only scored ten goals so far, while the visitors have let in 34 times already. The two teams from the bottom end of the table will square up against each other in search of three important points in their race for survival. But, there might not be enough between the two teams to separate them on the day. As a result, The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw.