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Saturday’s Premier League clash between Manchester United and Burnley has taken on monumental importance, with manager Ruben Amorim facing intense scrutiny after a dismal start to the season. The Red Devils are desperately hunting for their first victory of the 2025–26 campaign, and a resurgent Burnley side stands in their way.
What initially appeared to be a routine fixture for United has quickly escalated into an all-or-nothing encounter for Amorim, with the looming international break providing a natural pause for reflection – or potentially, a change in leadership. The Portuguese manager hit a new low on Wednesday night as his side suffered a humiliating penalty shootout defeat to League Two Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.
United’s season began with a valiant, albeit losing, effort against Arsenal. However, further questions were raised after last week’s 1–1 draw at Fulham, where they struggled to assert dominance after taking a second-half lead against the run of play.
Burnley’s Promising Start
In stark contrast, Burnley, widely tipped to battle for survival upon their return to the top flight, have enjoyed a surprisingly promising start. Despite a 3–0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Gameweek 1, there were encouraging signs. They secured their first win last weekend, beating a buoyant Sunderland at Turf Moor. Unlike United, Scott Parker’s men successfully progressed into the third round of the Carabao Cup, overcoming Derby County 2–1 on Tuesday night.
Here is Sports Illustrated’s comprehensive guide to Saturday’s pivotal clash:
Match Details
- Location: Manchester, England
- Stadium: Old Trafford
- Date: Saturday, August 30
- Kick-off Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT
- Referee: Sam Barrott
- VAR: Con Hatzidakis
Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
- Man Utd: 3 wins
- Burnley: 0 wins
- Draws: 2
- Last meeting: Man Utd 1–1 Burnley (April 27, 2024) – Premier League
Current Form (All Competitions)
Manchester United
- Grimsby 2–2 (12–11p) Man Utd – 27/08/25
- Fulham 1–1 Man Utd – 24/08/25
- Man Utd 0–1 Arsenal – 17/08/25
- Man Utd 1–1 Fiorentina – 09/08/25
- Man Utd 2–2 Everton – 03/08/25
Burnley
- Burnley 2–1 Derby – 26/08/25
- Burnley 2–0 Sunderland – 23/08/25
- Tottenham 3–0 Burnley – 16/08/25
- Burnley 0–1 Lazio – 09/08/25
- Stoke 1–0 Burnley – 02/08/25
How to Watch Man Utd vs. Burnley on TV
- United States: Peacock
- United Kingdom: Live radio commentary available via BBC Radio 5 Live
- Canada: DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Amazon Prime Video, Fubo Sports Network 4 Canada
- Mexico: Caliente TV, Amazon Prime Video
For a full list of Premier League broadcasters worldwide, click here.
Man Utd Team News
Amorim opted for a strong starting lineup against Grimsby, even bringing on key players like Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo when his side fell 2–0 behind. Benjamin Šeško, making his first start for the Red Devils, had chances but failed to convert and is likely to return to the bench. The manager faces a tactical dilemma regarding Mason Mount in the front three, particularly given Bruno Fernandes’ defensive vulnerabilities in a deeper midfield role.
Kobbie Mainoo, who started midweek, has expressed a desire for a loan move before the transfer deadline, making his inclusion unlikely. Lisandro Martínez and Noussair Mazrauoi remain sidelined with injuries. Altay Bayındır is expected to replace André Onana between the posts.
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Burnley (3-4-2-1)
Bayındır; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Mount; Cunha
Burnley Team News
Scott Parker anticipates the return of Connor Roberts after the international break, following a preseason injury. However, Manuel Benson, Zeki Amdouni, and Jordan Beyer are longer-term absentees. Kyle Walker could feature in a wing-back role for the Clarets, while former United players Martin Dúbravka and Hannibal Mejbri are set to face their old club. Summer signing Jaidon Anthony has enjoyed a bright start to the season.
Burnley Predicted Lineup vs. Man Utd (5-4-1)
Dúbravka; Walker, Humphreys, Estève, Ekdal, Hartman; Mejbri, Ugochukwu, Cullen, Anthony; Foster
Man Utd vs. Burnley Score Prediction
Wednesday’s capitulation against Grimsby Town will undoubtedly go down as one of the most infamous nights in Manchester United’s illustrious history. For Ruben Amorim, overcoming such humiliation will be an immense challenge, making this weekend’s fixture nothing short of colossal. While the Red Devils may be hesitant to part ways with the Portuguese manager so early, the pressure is palpable.
A home game against Burnley, once considered a straightforward affair, now carries immense tension. A sense of apathy is beginning to creep into the Theatre of Dreams, and it’s easy to envision things spiraling further for United. However, we’re backing Amorim to rally his troops and restore a semblance of pride. Expect United to find a way, by hook or by crook, to secure a vital victory and prolong their manager’s tenure.
Prediction: Man Utd 2–1 Burnley
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