THURSDAY PREMIER LEAGUE: The Striker previews the Premier League fixture on Thursday between MAN U v BURNLEY with a recommended BETDAQ bet and extended match stats.
MANCHESTER UNITED V BURNLEY
8.15pm We have the final Premier League fixture of 2021 on Thursday night as Manchester United host Burnley. Unfortunately we only have one fixture on BETDAQ Betting Exchange to enjoy, as Everton v Newcastle was also due to be played tonight but it was postponed because of a Covid19 outbreak in the Newcastle camp. There’s plenty of talking points heading into this game however, and you feel that United really need a win here. They put in a woeful performance away to Newcastle and had to settle for a 1-1 draw, and now there are plenty of rumours about the squad being unhappy.
I have to say, my take on all the paper talk is that this squad is very unhealthy. Manchester United have brought in a manger who is all about pressing – he clearly wants the squad to work harder, run more and put in a bigger effort. What happens? The players throw the toys out of the pram. We all saw the stats when Ole was manager about how United were bottom of most tables which were rated on ground covered, working hard etc. It will be fascinating to actually see what happens from here. These players have thrown so many managers under the bus now.
While United will kick this game off sitting in 7th, their situation isn’t actually as bad as the table suggests. At the moment they have two games in hand on Arsenal who are in fourth. If they won those two games they would be one point behind Arsenal and bang in the mix for that fourth spot. The top three are gone, but that fourth spot is wide open. The problem for United will be Spurs who are two points ahead of United having played the same number of games, and Conte actually has them playing well at the moment.
This is also a massive game for Burnley who are still trying to get out of the bottom four. They have missed quite a few games. They’ve only played 15 while the two sides below them have played 19 for example. They have two games in hand on Watford above them and three on Leeds. I’m sure they will be viewing this game as a good chance for an upset given all the bad reports coming from the United training ground. Burnley are a side who like to grind out results too, so United will have to work hard to beat them.
United look a little short for me at 1.42. They have been a little laboured recently and goals haven’t been flowing. They’ve managed one goal against Newcastle and one against Norwich – the two worst sides in the league. Burnley lost a massive game against Newcastle recently, but they have managed four draws from their five games. I feel the United lay offers value at the odds, but given the likely Burnley tactics here and United’s lack of effort under 2.5 goals looks the best value call at 2.24. This looks like it could be a boring affair with United struggling to break down Burnley. After all the negative paper talk, it will be very interesting to see the United performance!
The Striker Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 2.24 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://bit.ly/BDQMunbur
MATCH STATS
● Manchester United have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games against Burnley (W8 D4), going down 2-0 at Old Trafford in January 2020.
● 60% of Burnley’s Premier League points against Manchester United have come at Old Trafford (6/10 – W1 D3 L3). In Premier League history only Cardiff (75%), West Bromwich Albion (67%) and Crystal Palace (64%) have won a higher share of their points against Man Utd away from home.
● Man Utd are unbeaten in their final league game in each of the last nine calendar years (W6 D3) since a 3-2 loss against Blackburn at Old Trafford in 2011.
● Burnley have lost their final league game in just one of the last eight calendar years (W4 D3), though that defeat did come against Manchester United in 2019 (0-2).
● Manchester United have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League home games, shipping 22 goals in the process. However, that clean sheet did come in their last such game at Old Trafford, a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace earlier this month.
● Burnley are without a win in their last nine Premier League away games (D4 L5), since winning 2-0 at Fulham in May. They last had a longer run without a win on the road between August 2016 and April 2017 (17 games).
● Burnley have failed to score in each of their last three Premier League games, attempting just 25 shots (8.3 per game) in those fixtures, with just three of those on target (1 per game). The Clarets last went four league matches without scoring in November 2020.
● Man Utd’s Anthony Martial has been directly involved in four goals in five Premier League games against Burnley (3 goals, 1 assist), though all of these goal involvements have come at Turf Moor.
● Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez has scored in both of his last two Premier League starts against Manchester United at Old Trafford, netting in victories at the ground for West Bromwich Albion in April 2018 and Burnley in January 2020.
● Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes hasn’t scored or assisted a goal in either of his Premier League games against Burnley, making the Clarets one of just three sides he’s faced more than once without registering a single goal involvement in the competition (also Crystal Palace, 4 and Sheffield United, 3).
