🔊 How much longer will Ruben Amorim remain at the helm of Manchester United? The club's management has faith in the Portuguese coach, but there's a limit to everything. As we head into the third round of the Premier League, the Red Devils are still without a win. Meanwhile, Burnley, who have made their return to the top flight, have already secured three points. However, this doesn't make the Clarets even remotely competitive at Old Trafford in the eyes of the bookmakers. Let's delve into whether these odds are justified.

Head-to-Head

📊 Delving deep into the history of their head-to-head encounters isn't necessary, but it's worth noting that Burnley aren't the easiest opponent for Manchester United. The Red Devils have dropped points in nearly half of their recent clashes with the Clarets (4 out of 10).

Manchester United Team Overview

🔴 When will Manchester United finally return to their former glory? It's a tough question. Ruben Amorim was given a full preseason and expensive transfers, yet results are still lacking. The team looked impressive against Arsenal, but had little to show away at Fulham, essentially holding on for a draw in the last 20 minutes. The Portuguese manager is taking a risk by placing Mount and Fernandes in the holding midfield role, but the captain is struggling in his new position. Bruno's game is off overall – he's even missing his favored penalty kicks.

⚪ Things are so dire for the team that they were knocked out of the League Cup by a League Two side, Grimsby Town, this week. They managed a comeback from 0-2 down, but were weaker in the penalty shootout. What's most intriguing is that they played with a half-strength lineup, not just their deepest reserves.

Burnley Team Overview

⚪ Burnley had a tough start, suffering a heavy defeat against Tottenham (0-3), but this was somewhat anticipated. The key takeaway is that the team didn't crumble and managed to secure three points in their next fixture against Sunderland (2-0), a fellow newly promoted side. In a balanced match, Josh Cullen and Jaden Anthony made the difference, each scoring a goal and assisting each other.

🏆 The Clarets also began their League Cup journey, and unlike United, they did so successfully by defeating a stronger opponent, Derby County (2-1). It's worth noting that compared to their last league game, a completely different lineup took the field, meaning Scott Parker's squad heads to Old Trafford with fresh legs.

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Manchester United

🎙 Ruben Amorim was utterly dejected following the League Cup exit: "Football was brutally honest today—the best team won. The only team that showed up on the pitch. Superior players can lose and do lose when they face a cohesive team. We were completely lost, and I don't know why the opponents had so much space. At a time when every success, every victory matters to us, my players start a match like this... Well, they've said it all with their performance. I think you understand what kind of statement that was. It's unacceptable; today we reached our limit. I genuinely feel for our fans. They've always supported me and the team despite setbacks. But sometimes it's too much even for them. I understand their feelings, and I'm truly sorry."

📝 Manchester United continue their search for a reliable goalkeeper. The leading candidate is Senne Lammens from Antwerp. However, a Turkish insider revealed that Galatasaray have entered the race with an offer that surpasses United's bid.

❌ United have numerous issues, but injuries aren't among them. Although there are a couple of sidelined players—Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui. The Moroccan is close to returning to action, but his participation in the upcoming match is unlikely.

Burnley

🎙 Scott Parker after the victory over Derby County: "For many players, this was a great chance to take a breather. The season is just kicking off, with Premier League matches ahead, and many of these guys are making their debuts today for various reasons: some are recovering from injuries, while others probably haven't seen much game time since preseason. So it was a perfect opportunity to get some minutes in, and I'm pleased with that—it seems everyone did well. I'm glad we've advanced to the next round."

🔝 Three Burnley players made it into WhoScored's Team of the Week for the second round of the Premier League: Josh Cullen (8.31), Jaidon Anthony (8.21), and Elmar Ekdal (7.73).

❌ Forward Zeki Amdouni tore his ACL during preseason, so it'll be a long wait before we see him back on the pitch. Right-back Connor Roberts hasn't played this season yet, and according to the head coach, he's likely to return only after the international break.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

Samuel Barrott, who will officiate the upcoming match, is known for his strictness. Last season in the Premier League, he averaged 4.6 bookings per game, and he hasn't eased up this season either, showing six yellow cards in the Brighton vs Fulham match.

Both teams typically avoid picking up too many "yellows," but with such a stringent referee, maintaining that trend could be challenging. The match promises to be intense, with plenty of physical battles, so we're opting for a bet on over 2.5 yellow cards. This bet has come through in their last four head-to-head encounters.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Burnley have looked lively at the start of the season. Even in their loss to Tottenham, Scott Parker's side created chances. As for United's defense—it's as shaky as ever, with both goalkeepers prone to mistakes. Based on this, we suggest a bet on Burnley to score. The Clarets have found the net in their last six Premier League matches at Old Trafford.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Once again, we're focusing on the visitors. Scott Parker's team are known for their love of corners, managing at least four in eight of their last nine away games. Given Manchester United's well-documented struggles defending set pieces, it's likely the Clarets will target deliveries from the corner flag. Therefore, a bet on over 3.5 corners for Burnley seems reasonable.

From a gameplay perspective, there are many reasons to believe that Manchester United might drop points again. However, some matches transcend these concerns, and the upcoming one seems to be just that kind of encounter. Their dismal League Cup performance should galvanize the Red Devils into action. If not against a newly promoted side at the Theatre of Dreams, then where else will they secure three points? With some hesitation, we still back a hard-fought victory for the hosts. Yet, considering their defensive issues, they are likely to concede a goal. Therefore, our predicted score is 2-1, and our main bet is on both teams to score (yes).