The post-Ruben Amorim era at Manchester United begins under the lights at Turf Moor this Wednesday, as interim head coach Darren Fletcher takes the reins following the Portuguese manager’s departure on Monday.
Darren Fletcher is expected to restore a traditional tactical identity. Historically, the Scot was a staple of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. Now, his side remains firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification. Specifically, Manchester United sit sixth. However, they remain level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea. In contrast, their hosts face much more dire straits.
Unfortunately, Scott Parker’s Burnley suffer from an 11-match winless run. Consequently, they find themselves six points adrift of safety. Therefore, this midweek clash represents a vital “must-win” for both teams. Worryingly, the Clarets picked up only two points from a possible 33. Now, they desperately need a spark to avoid relegation. For United, this fixture offers a massive opportunity. Hopefully, they can turn recent stalemates into victories. Finally, Fletcher can make a statement of intent for the new year.
Burnley vs Manchester United – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Wednesday, 7 January 2026
- Kick-off: 20:15 GMT
- Venue: Turf Moor, Burnley
- Referee: Stuart Attwell
- VAR: Craig Pawson
- Last Meeting: Manchester United 3–0 Burnley, 30 August 2025
Team News
Burnley
The Clarets are navigating a severe availability crisis at a critical juncture of the season. Josh Cullen, Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts, and Jordan Beyer are all confirmed absentees due to injury. The squad is further thinned by the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri, and Lyle Foster still away in Morocco. However, there is hope that influential defender Maxime Estève could return to the backline after missing the recent defeat to Brighton.
Manchester United
Darren Fletcher is set to transition back to a 4-2-3-1 formation and could be handed a massive boost with the return of club captain Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, both of whom are nearing fitness. On the downside, the defensive unit remains depleted; Matthijs de Ligt (back), Harry Maguire (thigh), and Kobbie Mainoo (calf) are expected to miss out. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui also remain unavailable due to AFCON commitments.
Form
Burnley
Burnley have now lost nine of their last 11 Premier League games, a run that has seen them plummet to 19th in the standings. At home, their struggles are equally pronounced; they are winless in their last eight games against United at Turf Moor, scoring just a single goal in that period. Notably, manager Scott Parker has lost 65% of his home Premier League matches, the highest percentage for any manager with at least 25 home games in the competition’s history.
Manchester United
Manchester United have drawn their last three Premier League fixtures and are looking to secure their first three points of 2026. While their overall form is stable—with only one loss in their last eight matches—their away defensive record is a major concern. United have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 15 Premier League away games, their longest such drought since 1978. However, the Red Devils remain lethal against promoted sides, boasting an unbeaten record of 26 matches against such opposition.
Predicted Lineups
Burnley predicted XI: Dúbravka; Walker, Ekdal, Estève, Pires; Ugochukwu, Florentino, Laurent; Edwards, Broja, Anthony
Manchester United predicted XI: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Dorgu, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
How to watch Burnley vs Manchester United?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage is scheduled to start at 19:30 GMT ahead of the 20:15 kick-off.
Read more- Pep Guardiola reacts to Ruben Amorim sacking by Man Utd
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