The post Ruben Amorim chapter will begin tonight as Manchester United travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley, who currently sit in the relegation zone. Amorim was sacked on Monday, with Darren Fletcher stepping in to take interim charge whilst a caretaker manager is sought for the rest of the season.
All was not rosy following our 1-1 draw against Leeds on Sunday as Amorim had openly criticised the hierarchy above him in the post match press conference, which seemed to be bubbling up for a while. He was then relieved of his duties the very next morning.
The Red Devils currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, level on points with fifth-place Chelsea and just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. Getting inside the top four places is very much in contention for United but there are some important matches that could potentially decide whether or not we finish in those places.
Darren Fletcher will lead the team at Turf Moor and is set to take charge again at the weekend when United play Brighton in the FA Cup. It remains to be seen if United make an announcement before our upcoming games against Manchester City and Arsenal as to who will be the caretaker manager for the rest of the season.
A permanent replacement for Ruben Amorim is not expected to arrive until the summer. Whoever takes charge for the remainder of the campaign will have the important job of securing European football for next season.
Darren Fletcher is one of those candidates alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Michael Carrick being considered for the caretaker’s position. Fletcher will have his audition tonight at Turf Moor and is likely to see a change in formation for the Reds.
Manchester United Team News
For United, interim head coach Darren Fletcher revealed that both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are set to return to the squad after recovering from their respective injuries, with our captain in line to be in the starting eleven for the visit to Turf Moor.
Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazaroui are absent through international duty at the African Cup of Nations, while Kobbie Mainoo (calf) Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Harry Maguire (thigh) remain on the sidelines.
Fletcher is set go with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Patrick Dorgu likely to be operating down the right with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko leading the attack. Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are set to continue as the midfield duo with Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez leading the back line.
Manchester United Possible Lineup
Lammens;
Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw;
Casemiro, Ugarte;
Dorgu, Fernandes, Cunha;
Sesko.
Opposition Preview
Burnley come into this match following their 2-0 defeat at Brighton meaning they currently haven’t won in the last 11 games in the Premier League. They last won back to back matches against Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of October but have not seen any victories since that time. Nine defeats in their 11 sees them in the relegation zone.
The Clarets have picked up just 12 points from their 20 matches in the top-flight leaving them 19th in the table. They are nine points behind 17th placed Nottingham Forest.
In their first ever Premier League home game back in August 2009, Burnley secured a 1-0 win against United but haven’t won in the last eight against Red Devils at Turf Moor losing six times and only scored one goal in that time. Back in August, they suffered a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture with Bruno Fernandes scoring a 97th minute penalty to give United all three points.
Burnley Team News
The Clarets have several injuries to contend with Josh Cullen (knee), Zeki Amdouni (knee), Connor Roberts (calf), Joe Worrall (muscle), Zian Flemming (muscle) and Jordan Beyer (hamstring)and ruled out. Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri, Lyle Foster are currently on international duty with their respective countries for AFCON.
Burnley are hoping for some good news with Maxime Esteve being able to return after he missed out last time against Brighton through injury. Jaidon Anthony has scored four goals this season and they will be looking to their attacker to add to that tally.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: DLWDD
Burnley United Premier League form: LDDLL
Prediction
Whilst we have only kept two clean sheets in the Premier League so far this season, Burnley’s form has been poor so we should hopefully under the interim charge of Darren Fletcher get off to a winning start. Anything other than a win would be disappointing.
Burnley 1-3 Manchester United
