Manchester United host Burnley on Boxing Day in a match that will see the Red Devils trying to bounce back from a very disappointing 2-2 draw at Leicester City yesterday. United manager Jose Mourinho was highly critical of his team, calling out what he saw as immaturity in several areas.
United will take on the seventh place Clarets without several key players. Matteo Darmian was replaced just before kickoff due to an unspecified injury, as central defender Victor Lindelof moved over to the right back position. It’s safe to assume that we might not see Darmian in this clash either. Hence we included this change in our MUFC starting XI prediction.
Mourinho has ruled midfielders Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini out for the entire festive period, while right back Antonio Valencia has been battling a hamstring injury lately. Central defender Eric Bailly is a long term after ankle surgery, Chris Smalling also received a knock late in that game.
For the visitors, they could be without top scorer Chris Wood, who limped off during the first half of yesterday’s loss to Tottenham.
Clarets defender James Tarkowski will serves the second of a three-match ban in this one while Charlie Taylor will continue at left-back if Stephen Ward (knee) remains sidelined.
United have won 19 of their 23 Premier League Boxing Day games, giving them the best winning percentage on December 26th in the competition.
They’re unbeaten in 16 home league games on Boxing Day (W14 D2), since a 0-3 defeat against Liverpool in 1978.
Odds: Burnley FC- 10/1, Man Utd- 1/4, Draw- 19/4
MUFC injury report: go to this link
Prediction: United 2, Burnley FC 0
As always, feel free to post your own Man United and/or Leicester starting XI prediction, as well as your forecast for the final score.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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