Manchester United must bounce back quickly from their midweek embarrassment as they host Burnley in the Premier League this afternoon at Old Trafford.
United‘s season had started with a valiant effort in defeat to Arsenal, but further questions were raised after last week’s 1–1 draw at Fulham, during which they failed to lay a glove on the Cottagers after taking the lead against the run of play in the second half.
A miserable Carabao Cup exit at the hands of fourth-tier Grimsby has again piled the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim, who spent a lengthy penalty shootout hiding behind his coaches in an image which he will hope doesn’t become the symbol of his tenure.
Amorim has won just 16 of his 45 games in charge, and seven of those came in last season’s Europa League campaign. Another defeat to Burnley will leave the Portuguese teetering on the edge during the international break.
Softfootball believes this encounter would be a fairly ideal fixture for Manchester United to quieten the noise outside by recording a simple victory in front of their own fans, but the squad looks absolutely miserable and unable to beat anyone at the moment.
Manchester United confirmed Lineup:
Starting XI: Bayindir, Dalot, De Ligt, Mount, B. Fernandes (C), Cunha, Yoro, Amad, Casemiro, Mbeumo, Shaw
Subs: Onana, Dorgu, Heaven, Maguire, Mazraoui, Mainoo, Ugarte, Sesko, Zirkzee
Ruben names his XI to face Burnley 👊
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 30, 2025
Meanwhile, Burnley will be full of confidence after winning their first home game of the league season, and then watching Grimsby run out victors in midweek. Not a great situation for United of Amorim, who look set to be in for another tough afternoon.
Burnley are projected to be fighting for survival upon their return to the top tier, but their start to the new season has been promising. There were encouraging signs on Gameweek 1 at Tottenham Hotspur, despite falling to a 3–0 defeat, and they notched their first win last weekend by beating a buoyant Sunderland at Turf Moor.
Unlike United, Scott Parker’s men progressed into the third round of the Carabao Cup, overcoming Derby County 2–1 on Tuesday night.
Burnley confirmed Lineup:
Starting XI: Dúbravka, Walker, Hartman, Estève, Bruun Larsen, Ugbochukwu, Foster, Anthony, Ekdal, Cullen, Hannibal,
Substitutes: Weib, Worrall, Edwards, Chaouna, Flemming, Ramsey, Sonne, Pires, Laurent
Scott Parker’s Burnley 📋#BurnleyFC pic.twitter.com/H7SthmAN6F
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 30, 2025
