Confirmed: Solskjaer's side to face Burnley
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made only slight alterations to the Manchester United side beaten at Liverpool last Sunday, with just two changes from the Anfield XI in his team to face Burnley tonight.
United were beaten 2-0 on Merseyside but the manager was encouraged by the performance, hence the similar look to his line-up for this evening's game, which you can follow with live updates in ManUtd.com's Match Centre and in our Official App. Kick-off is at 20:15 GMT.
Ole's selection options were reduced on Tuesday when central defender Victor Lindelof had to be sent home from training with illness. The Swede has not recovered sufficiently and his place in the Reds' defence is taken by Phil Jones who hasn’t started a Premier League game since the 3-3 draw at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United back in November. However, he did start in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City earlier this month.
Back under the lights!
GalleryThe Reds have arrived at Old Trafford ahead of tonight's Premier League clash with Burnley.
Having played a back five at Liverpool at the weekend, the boss has seemingly reverted to a rearguard of four against Sean Dyche’s side at Old Trafford. The switch of system means that Luke Shaw is on the bench tonight, having started against Liverpool.
There is another inclusion in the matchday squad for Eric Bailly after the defender returned to the bench at Anfield following an injury that had kept him out all season.
The Reds beat Burnley at Turf Moor in the league in the final match of 2019 with goals from Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. But with the latter striker out injured the Frenchman will lead the line alone tonight against the Clarets.
“We hope to try and dominate the game here and hope to take the game to them. We want to play as much as we can in their half.”
A victory for United would cut the gap to fourth place to just three points, after current occupants Chelsea were held 2-2 at home by Arsenal last night.
“It says everything about this league, anyone can beat anyone, it's tight, it's close,” added Ole.
“That's one of the big plusses about this round [of midweek fixtures], it's given us a chance to cut down on the top four.”
Ole explains the starting XI
The manager speaks pre-match about Lindelof’s illness, and the fight for the top four…
United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Jones, Williams; Matic, Fred; Andreas, Mata, James; Martial.
Substitutes: Romero, Dalot, Bailly, Shaw, Lingard, Gomes, Greenwood.
Burnley: Pope, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Lowton, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Hendrick, Wood, Rodriguez.
Substitutes: Hart, Brady, Pieters, Lennon, Vyrda, Long, Goodridge.