Fresh from their embarrassing EFL Cup exit in midweek, a deflated Manchester United outfit welcome newly-promoted Burnley to Old Trafford for their latest Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since April 2024 when the Clarets held the Red Devils to a 1-1 top-flight draw on the red side of Manchester.
Match preview
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim on August 24, 2025
Manchester United were the big fish heading to Blundell Park on Wednesday night, but to the surprise of many, it was fourth-tier outfit Grimsby Town who caught a big one, as they pulled off one of the biggest upsets in English football by inflicting a humiliating defeat on Ruben Amorim’s side in the second round of the EFL Cup.
The Red Devils were all at sea against the Mariners as they fell two goals behind in the opening half-hour. Summer signing Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire came to the rescue to force a penalty shootout, but it was the former who missed the 26th and final spot kick of a marathon shootout to send the League Two side through via an epic 12-11 scoreline.
There is clearly something fishy going on at Man United, who are without a win in three matches to start the new campaign having already dropped points against Arsenal (1-0) and Fulham (1-1) in the Premier League, leaving Amorim in a fragile position at Old Trafford.
Amorim - whose win percentage of just 35.5% is by far the lowest of any permanent Man United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson - has fallen to a new low almost 10 months into his tenure at the club, and despite spending close to £200m on a new forward line this summer, the Portuguese has insisted that “something has to change” - whether that could prove to be himself in the dugout remains to be seen.
As the pressure continues to build, Man United have no other choice but to move swiftly on from their midweek misery and they will take comfort from the fact that they boast an unbeaten 23-game run in the Premier League against promoted teams (W20 D3) since a 4-1 loss at Watford in November 2021 - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's final game as Red Devils boss.
Only three times have Man United previously failed to win each of their opening three Premier League fixtures (1992-92, 2007-08 and 2014-15), and success is certainly not a given against Burnley this weekend, as they have lost eight of their last 13 Premier League home games (W3 D2), conceding 21 goals in the process.
Josh Cullen celebrates his goal for Burnley on August 23, 2025
After beginning life back in the big time with a 3-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley have since given the Turf Moor faithful plenty to cheer about across their last two home matches, winning back-to-back games in the space of just four days.
The Clarets collected their first three Premier League points of the new season courtesy of a 2-0 win over fellow promoted side Sunderland last weekend, before leaving it late to edge past Derby County by a 2-1 scoreline in the EFL Cup second round on Tuesday thanks to Oliver Sonne’s stoppage-time winner.
Head coach Scott Parker has taken plenty of positives from the midweek result, highlighting in particular how he took advantage of the “brilliant opportunity” to give some of his first-team players, including new signings and those coming back from injury, valuable minutes in their legs.
Burnley’s focus has now shifted back to the Premier League, with survival their top priority this season having alternated between relegation and promotion across the last four seasons. The Clarets will aim to conclude the month of August on a high with consecutive Premier League wins for the first time since April 2022.
Parker’s side will walk out at Old Trafford as underdogs, but of all the teams to have visited Man United at least eight times in the Premier League, Burnley are in fact one of just three teams to have avoided defeat in more than half of those encounters (P9 W1 D4 L4), along with Chelsea and Manchester City, so an upset cannot be entirely written off this weekend.
Manchester United Premier League form:
L D
Manchester United form (all competitions):
L D L
Burnley Premier League form:
L W
Burnley form (all competitions):
L W W
Team News
Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko on August 17, 2025
Man United’s Lisandro Martinez remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a long-term knee injury, while Noussair Mazraoui is closing in on a return from a thigh problem, but Saturday’s game will likely come too soon for the defender.
After making eight changes in midweek, Amorim is set to rotate his team once again, and that may see goalkeeper Andre Onana - who once again did not cover himself in glory against Grimsby - replaced between the sticks by Altay Bayindir, who has also endured a shaky start to the new season.
Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw are all in contention to return in defence, while captain Bruno Fernandes is set to link arms with either Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte in midfield - Fernandes has directly contributed to 10 goals in his last eight Premier League games against newly-promoted teams (four goals, six assists).
After making two substitute appearances in the Premier League, new signing Benjamin Sesko was handed his first Man United start in midweek and he is likely to continue as the central striker, with fellow new recruits Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha providing him with support in the final third.
As for Burnley, Zeki Amdouni (ACL), Manuel Benson (Achilles) and Jordan Beyer (knee) all remain sidelined with injuries, while Connor Roberts (knock) is closing in on a return, but Saturday’s fixture may come too soon for the full-back.
Armando Broja, Axel Tuanzebe and Bashir Humphreys, who have all joined the Clarets on permanent deals this summer, made their first appearances of the season in midweek and they could be selected in the matchday squad once again this weekend.
Parker will likely revert to a similar starting lineup to the one that began the win over Sunderland, with ex-Man United pair Martin Dubravka and Hannibal Mejbri, former Man City defender Kyle Walker, and last weekend’s goalscoring duo Josh Cullen and Jaidon Anthony all pushing for a recall.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Bayindir; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Sesko, Cunha
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Walker, Humphreys, Esteve, Ekdal, Hartman; Mejbri, Ugochukwu, Cullen, Anthony; Foster
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We say: Manchester United 1-1 Burnley
Considering the dire situation Man United find themselves in, it is difficult to confidently back the Red Devils to prevail against any opponent they come up against.
Burnley demonstrated their defensive strengths last season before keeping a clean sheet against Sunderland last time out, and the Clarets will back themselves to frustrate the hosts this weekend. Man United will be regarded as the favourites, but Burnley may do enough to hold on for a point.
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