Burnley will host Newcastle United at Turf Moor on Saturday, looking to boost their survival hopes with a positive result at home.
Burnley have been difficult to beat in recent weeks, and they have lost just one of their last six league matches ahead of the visit of Newcastle United. The Clarets are 19th in the league table, two points adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest. A win on Saturday could take them out of the bottom three, provided the other results go their way.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are seventh in the standings, and they will look to finish the season strongly and push for European qualification. The Magpies are unbeaten in five of their last six league matches, and they have an impressive record against Burnley.
The away side will look to pick up a win here, and it remains to be seen whether they can come out on top. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Burnley
The home team will be without Aaron Ramsey, who is sidelined until the end of the year with a knee injury. Jordan Beyer misses out with a thigh issue, while Nathan Redmond is sidelined with a hamstring complaint, and Ameen Al-Dakhil is unlikely to play again this season.
Burnley are likely to shape up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Arijanet Muric in goal. Lorenz Assignon and Vitinho will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Dara O’Shea and Maxime Esteve should start at the heart of the defence.
Josh Cullen and Sander Berge will look to keep things in control in the midfield. Cullen will add physicality and drive to the side, while Berge will protect the back four and win the ball back for his side.
Wilson Odobert and Jacob Bruun Larsen will start in the wide areas, and they will look to help out in the attack with their pace and flair. Finally, David Datro Fofana will lead the line for Burnley alongside Lyle Foster.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Muric; Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Vitinho; Odobert, Cullen, Berge, Larsen; Fofana, Foster
Newcastle United
The away side will be without Sven Botman, who is ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Jamaal Lascelles has a similar issue, and the Newcastle United is expected to return next year.
Sandro Tonali remains suspended, while Joe Willock misses out with a calf injury. Fabian Schar has picked up a season-ending thigh injury, while Kieran Trippier misses out with a calf injury. Martin Dubravka will start in goal for the Magpies, who will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out defensively and join the attack during counter-attacking opportunities. Paul Dummett and Dan Burn are likely to start in the central defensive pairing.
As for the midfield unit, Elliot Anderson will look to add creativity to the side. Bruno Guimaraes will add drive and control to the side. Sean Longstaff will act as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to shield the back four and break up opposition attacks. Alexander Isak will lead the line for Newcastle, with Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Dummett, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Anderson; Gordon, Isak, Barnes
Key Stats
- Newcastle United have won five of their last six matches against Burnley in all competitions.
- 13 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- Burnley are unbeaten in five of their last six Premier League matches.
- Newcastle are also unbeaten in five of their last six Premier League matches.
- Burnley have conceded in each of their last six matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Alexander Isak
The 24-year-old Newcastle United striker is our key player to watch out for. He has been in outstanding form this season, scoring 23 goals in all competitions. He will look to take advantage of Burnley’s defensive vulnerabilities and punish the home team here. Isak has the quality to open up the Burnley defence with his ability to take on defenders, and he will look to add to his goal tally as well.
Prediction
Burnley 1-1 Newcastle United
A lot is at stake for the home team. The Clarets are still in with a chance of survival, and they will look to do their best here. Burnley cannot afford any more slip-ups at this stage of the season, and this is a must-win contest for them.
On the other hand, Newcastle United do not have a lot to play for, and it will be interesting to see whether they can continue their impressive run of form against the Clarets. This is likely to be a close contest, and the two teams could end up cancelling each other out.
