Manchester United v Burnley predictions: Red Devils may make sluggish start

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester United v Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 4pm Sunday

Best bet

Draw-Manchester United double result
1pt 3-1 general

Team news

Manchester United
Harry Maguire should return from suspension after missing Thursday's win over Granada but Anthony Martial and Eric Bailly are out.

Burnley
Goalkeeper Nick Pope faces a late test on his shoulder injury and Dwight McNeil is struggling with a knock. Robbie Brady, Kevin Long and Ashley Barnes are out.

Match preview

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making all the right noises about staying in the race for the Premier League title, but while closing the 11-point gap to Manchester City appears unrealistic, there is cause for optimism at Old Trafford.

City could be on the verge of one of the most successful seasons in English football history, but talk about the Norwegian's suitability for the United hotseat seems to have quietened after a solitary defeat in their last 25 league outings.

Reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League for the second successive season can only add to the positive feeling, even if their rivals across the city could still end up winning three trophies this season, including their first Champions League.

This seems the ideal environment for expert spoilers Burnley to throw a stick in the spokes, though, so United will have to be on their guard.

Sean Dyche's side could have done without losing 2-1 to Newcastle last week and have won just two of their last 12 games, but they make take some confidence from the fact they have got something from their last four visits to the Theatre of Dreams, and they won 2-0 there last season.

United are in much better form than they were then but it would be unwise to completely discount a team who have posted victories at Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton this term.

And that's a side who have often relied on their Turf Moor form to get them out of trouble in recent years.

From a betting perspective, it is tough to see where to go among a sea of paradoxes.

For instance, Burnley's last four away games have all featured more than two goals but only one of the preceding nine did, and that was a 5-0 thumping at the Etihad.

Seven of the last nine meetings have featured fewer than three goals and Edinson Cavani would be a strong candidate to net first after finding the net in the recent wins over Tottenham and Granada, but it is worth taking a trip into the double-result market.

It would be no surprise if Burnley adopt a defensive approach in order to protect keeper Nick Pope, if he recovers from a shoulder injury, or potential replacement Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

And United may struggle to break them down. While the Red Devils look strong candidates to gain a place in next season's Champions League, they have been leading at half-time in just three of their last 17 league games, so the Draw-Manchester United double result could be a decent option for a modest punt.

Key stat

United have been drawing at half-time in eight of their last 13 Premier League matches

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