Today, Burnley will try to get out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time this season when they host Newcastle United at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies are trying to achieve their second league double over the Clarets in three years. In September, they beat them 2-0 at St. James’ Park in the reverse fixture.
Many people thought Burnley wouldn’t make it, but Vincent Kompany’s team has put together a strong run of form since the middle of March, giving them a chance to avoid going back to the Championship right away.
The Clarets have only lost one of their last eight Premier League games and have gained 11 points. Their most recent game was a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United, coming after a 4-1 win at Sheffield United.
Antony pounced on a loose ball and put United ahead 11 minutes from time, putting them on track to win all three points. But Burnley replacement Zeki Amdouni saved the draw by converting a penalty in the 87th minute.
At the start of March, Kompany’s team was at the bottom of the Premier League table, 10 points from safety. Now, they are 19th, just two points behind Nottingham Forest in 17th place, who are just above the dotted line with three games left to play because they are still waiting for the outcome of an appeal for a points deduction for breaking financial rules.
Burnley and Sheffield United are the only teams in the Premier League with 10 points or less at home so far this season. However, seven of those points have been earned since the beginning of the year. That improvement at Turf Moor is a good sign going into their game against Newcastle on Saturday. They will be trying to beat them in a league game for the first time since December 2019, when they won 1-0 at home.
Newcastle is on track to finish in the top seven this season after picking up 13 points in their last six Premier League games, including three wins in their last four games of April.
The Magpies beat Sheffield United 5-1 at St. James’ Park last weekend, coming back from a slow start. Alexander Isak scored twice before halftime, giving him 23 goals for the season across all competitions. Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson also scored for the hosts.
Eddie Howe’s team isn’t in the running for the Champions League this season, but they are still in the running to play in next year’s Europa League. They are currently seventh in the Premier League table, just one point behind sixth-placed Man United, who will host the Magpies at Old Trafford on May 15.
So far in the Premier League, Newcastle has earned 53 points, but only 14 of those have come away from home. The Magpies are ranked 15th in the table for away wins this season, having lost 10 of their 16 games away from home, including eight of their last 11 games.
Although, the Black and Whites have won their last two trips to Turf Moor and all five of their league meetings with Burnley. Newcastle are looking to win six games in a row against the same opponent for the first time since 2006–2008, when they did it against Tottenham Hotspur.
Burnley is still missing Aaron Ramsey (knee), Jordan Beyer, Nathan Redmond (both thigh), and Ameen Al-Dakhil (unspecified) because they are hurt. Luca Koleosho (knee) will also miss Saturday’s game because it is too soon for him, but he could be back before the end of the season.
The team that started the draw at Manchester United isn’t expected to change much, if at all. Lorenz Assignon, Dara O’Shea, Maxime Esteve, and Vitinho will stay in the back four, with Arijanet Muric at goalkeeper.
Sander Berge or Josh Cullen will be competing with Josh Brownhill to start in center midfield. David Datro Fofana or Lyle Foster could lose their spot up front, making room for Amdouni.
It’s still not possible for Newcastle to play because of injuries to Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles (both ACL), Joe Willock, Matt Targett (both Achilles), Lewis Miley (back), Nick Pope (shoulder), Kieran Trippier (calf), and Joelinton (thigh).
Fabian Schar had to leave the game against Sheffield United at halftime because of a leg injury. The defender will be checked out before the game, along with winger Miguel Almiron (knee), who is getting closer to returning and scored in the first game back against Burnley.
Emil Krafth could play center back with Dan Burn if Schar isn’t deemed fit to play. The rest of Howe’s starting group might stay the same, though Wilson and Harvey Barnes will both be pushing to be brought back in attack.
Muric could start for Burnley with Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Vitinho, Odobert, Cullen, Berge, Larsen, Amdouni, and Foster.
Dubravka could start for Newcastle United with Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Anderson, Gordon, Isak, and Barnes.
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