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Burnley logo
Premier League | Gameweek 16
Dec 29, 2020 at 6pm UK
Turf Moor
Sheffield United logo

Burnley
1 - 0
Sheff Utd

Mee (32')
Lowton (45+2')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Stevens (72'), Burke (90+1')

Preview: Burnley vs. Sheffield United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Premier League clash between Burnley and Sheffield United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Premier League relegation rivals Burnley and Sheffield United face off at Turf Moor in both sides' final games of 2020.

United are bottom of the division with a record low points tally after 15 matches, while Burnley are hovering two points above the dropzone.


Match preview

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder pictured on November 22, 2020© Reuters

Rather than look for excuses on the back of United's 13th defeat in 15 matches this season, boss Chris Wilder admitted his side's lack of quality told in the 1-0 loss to Everton.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's late effort proved enough to settle a tight contest, with the Blades looking good value for just a third point of the season for large parts.

That latest defeat is another nail in United's relegation coffin, with the Yorkshire outfit being cut further adrift by the week.

Tuesday's clash with Burnley really is in the must-win category, then, given that the Clarets are only just above the dropzone themselves.

Sean Dyche's side were beaten 1-0 by Leeds United on Sunday - Patrick Bamford's early penalty enough for the hosts in a game that saw Burnley have a goal controversially ruled out.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche pictured in November 2020© Reuters

That brought an end to a decent run of form for the Clarets, having taken eight points from their previous four unbeaten matches, including a 1-0 win at Arsenal.

They remain unbeaten in three at Turf Moor, though, most recently seeing off Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 there. United, by comparison, are winless in 13 away league matches stretching back into last season.

United also have a pretty poor record in this fixture, winning just one of the last eight encounters in all competitions, including a 5-4 penalty shootout loss in September's EFL Cup second-round tie.

Another defeat on Tuesday and, with close to half the season played, United will be a step closer to what now seems an inevitable relegation.

Burnley Premier League form: LDWDWL

Sheffield United Premier League form: LLLLDL


Team News

Sheffield United's Oliver McBurnie reacts on January 21, 2020© Reuters

This is the second of three games in a week for Burnley so Dyche is expected to make a change or two to his starting lineup.

Dale Stephens made his first appearance in nearly two months as a second-half substitute against Leeds and is pushing for inclusion here.

Striker Jay Rodriguez is another who will be hopeful of earning a place in the XI at the expense of Ashley Barnes or Chris Wood, while Dwight McNeil's fitness is being monitored.

As for the visitors, Oli Burke and Ben Osborn replaced John Fleck and John Lundstram for the defeat to Everton, with the latter still suspended for this game.

Oli McBurnie has been nursing an injury, meaning a start for Rhian Brewster last time out, but the striker was brought off the bench and may return to the side here.

Lys Mousset and Oliver Norwood are other possible options should Wilder wish to rotate his side.

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Brady, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Barnes, Wood

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Basham, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Osborn, Ampadu, Fleck, Lowe; McGoldrick, McBurnie


SM words green background

We say: Burnley 2-0 Sheffield United

Burnley were a little unfortunate to lose to Leeds last time out and had been in good form prior to that setback. This match provides the hosts with a big chance to put some distance between themselves and the dropzone which, given United's form this term, we can see being the case.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or draw in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Draw:data



Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:



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Written by
Daniel Lewis

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Burnley win with a probability of 37.99%. A win for Sheffield United had a probability of 33.88% and a draw had a probability of 28.1%.

The most likely scoreline for a Burnley win was 1-0 with a probability of 11.74%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (7.96%) and 2-0 (7.09%). The likeliest Sheffield United win was 0-1 (10.93%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.19%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with an 11.7% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted a 1-0 win for Burnley in this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Burnley vs Sheff Utd

Burnley
67.8%
Draw
20.3%
Sheffield United
11.9%
177
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Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder pictured on November 22, 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
16Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
17Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth193882134-1317
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


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