Burnley vs Leicester City
Turf Moor, Burnley
Sunday, 19-01-2020 @5pm
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Burnley have won two of their nine Premier League games against Leicester City, both at home. Leicester could earn three consecutive league victories against the Clarets for the first time 1906, when the club were still known as Leicester Fosse.
Burnley striker Ashley Barnes, who has missed the Clarets’ last two games, needs a hernia operation and faces a spell on the sidelines. Chris Wood is available despite breaking his nose at Chelsea, while Jay Rodriguez and Robbie Brady are back in contention following lay-offs.
Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi remains out with a knee problem.The Foxes will monitor defender Wes Morgan, who been absent for the last two matches because of a groin injury.
Leicester lost just two of their opening 17 league matches this season, but have been beaten in three of their subsequent five games. They have conceded 10 goals in those five league fixtures, only one fewer than in their opening 17 matches. The Foxes have scored 27 Premier League away goals this season – seven more than they have at home. Prior to the weekend, only Manchester City had been more prolific on their travels, with 33 goals. Leicester have had 14 different goalscorers in the top flight this season excluding own goals, a tally exceeded only by Liverpool prior to the latest round of matches. Jonny Evans is set to play his 300th game in English league football.
Liverpool vs Man United
Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Sunday, 19-01-2020 @7:30pm
Ref: Craig Pawson
Fabinho and Joel Matip are likely to be in Liverpool’s squad, having returned to full training on Wednesday after respective ankle and knee injuries. The Merseysiders are again without James Milner, Dejan Lovren and Naby Keita.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is a major doubt with a back injury but will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness. Luke Shaw, who is nursing a hamstring problem, will also be assessed. Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Marcos Rojo and Axel Tuanzebe remain out, though Eric Bailly could come into contention after playing in a behind-closed-doors game on Tuesday.
United are winless in their last four league and cup games at Anfield (D2, L2), with their most recent victory in January 2016 when Wayne Rooney scored the only goal in a Premier League match. Liverpool last hosted United whilst starting the day top of the league in September 1990, winning 4-0 on that occasion. Liverpool have lost 28 Premier League matches versus Manchester United, eight more than against any other club.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in 38 league games (W33, D5), the third longest run by a Premier League side. Only Arsenal and Chelsea recorded longer undefeated sequences (49 and 40 matches respectively), both of which ended with away defeats to Manchester United. Liverpool’s tally of 61 points is the highest any side has recorded after 21 games in any of Europe’s top five leagues (including adjustments for three points for a win). The Reds won 29 of their past 30 league fixtures, only dropping points in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in October 2019. They have won 18 successive top-flight games at Anfield since drawing with Leicester last January, three short of the club record set in 1972. The Merseysiders can establish a club record by scoring in each of their opening 22 top-flight fixtures. They have matched their total from the 1933-34 season, when they netted in each of their first 21. Roberto Firmino’s last 10 Liverpool goals have been scored away from Anfield. His last home goal for the club came in a 2-0 win against Porto in the Champions League last April. Mohamed Salah has failed to score or assist a goal in his four previous appearances against Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team are unbeaten against the top four sides in the league this season, beating Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea and drawing with Liverpool. United have lost their last two Premier League games on Merseyside, against Liverpool and Everton; they haven’t lost three in a row in the top flight since 1979. Manchester United’s tally of 34 points is their lowest after 22 matches of a top-flight season since the 1989-90 campaign, when they had 24 at this stage. Mason Greenwood has scored four Premier League goals this season – the last teenager to net more in a single campaign was Marcus Rashford, with five in 2016-17. Rashford has scored the opening goal in six Premier League games this season, a joint-league high prior to the latest round of fixtures. Each of United’s last 15 Premier League goals has been scored by either Rashford (seven), Anthony Martial (five) or Greenwood (three).
