Burnley v Manchester United: Premier League – live! | Football

28 mins: Mee catches Martial on the heel, probably just remind him that he’s there. Maguire and Mee have a long argument about it, which results in a smirk from the Burnley skipper and telling the United man to get back in his box.

26 mins: Wood kicks Maguire in the face, as you do. There is no malice from Wood, just an honest attempt to get the ball.

Burnley are keeping it tight here and just waiting for a set-piece to put United under pressure.

24 mins: Williams is fouled once more, this time by former United full-back Bardsley who catches him quite late while trying to get into the box. Pereira whips the free-kick in from the left but it is headed clear with minimal fuss.

Justin Kavanagh says: “As it’s Christmas, I’ve a fiver bet on Burnley keeping this game scoreless, based on the faithful’s belief (though not mine) that the Pope is infallible. Judging by his first few touches, I haven’t a prayer!”

We want goals!

22 mins: Burnley earn a corner off Fred which never was and the Brazilian gets very angry with the referee. United will not want face many corners tonight, especially ones that are not merited. Luckily for all involved it comes to nothing.

20 mins: United break on Burnley at pace, culminating in Rashford getting the ball on the edge of the box and whacking a shot against the foot of the post and wide.

18 mins: Needless to say, United look more creative as Burnley just aim it up to the two big men. Williams does well to get away from Wood, who earns his revenge by somehow removing the defender’s boot.

Burnley hit a long free-kick into the box which Tarkowski knocks down for someone to attack but it ends up with De Gea.

16 mins: A one-two between James and Rashford releases the former to get away from Taylor, who brings him down just before he reaches the area. It is a cynical challenge but he does not get a booking. Fred whacks the free-kick well over.

14 mins: Tarkowski pulls down Fred around 35 yards from goal. Rashford lines it up and hits it wonderfully with power and precision, forcing Pope to dive to his left to palm away the swerving ball at around hip height.

12 mins: Barnes has spent half the game in the air trying to flick the ball on to someone or other and the rest moaning to the referee about getting pushed in the back while jumping. Mike Dean, naturally, is having none of it. Probably because both sides played two days ago, the pace of the match can only be described as slow.

10 mins: Rashford shouts in pain after being caught by Westwood. It does not look too bad but Rashford does take a kick on the top of his foot. The forward has looked United’s main threat thus far, so they will want him at 100 per cent.

8 mins: Great work by Taylor on the left wing sees the full-back beat two men and chip a cross to the back post but his opposite number, Williams, is there to flick it clear before a claret shirt can get their head on it.

6 mins: Pope runs 20 yards out of his goal, takes a poor touch and is almost closed down by Martial but just about gets his clearance away. Young is on the deck after getting a little push in the back from Barnes. The United full-back hits the ground hard and looks in pain. After treatment he seems fine to continue.

4 mins: Rashford lifts a ball over the top for Pereira to chase but he is beaten to it by Pope, who decides to push it onto the midfielder, who knocks it out for a goal kick, rather than catch it. Whatever his intention, it worked.

2 mins: Burnley are looking to put the balls into the channels and Barnes has already earned a free-kick from Maguire. A positive start from the hosts.

The players are out on the pitch and Turf Moor is looking packed. Hopefully the teams will put on a show.

I have a feeling it is not warm in Burnley. But the Burnley team are all in short sleeves apart from Hendrick.

No shortage of things going on here …

On BT Sport Marcus Rashford is taking Robin van Persie around Manchester and has been explaining the homeless issue there. As someone from the city, he is absolutely right to raise awareness of how bad the situation has become. He’s a good egg.

I always get a little tinge of sadness when I see Joe Hart on a bench; he was so good for Man City for so long and since then has, metaphorically, fallen off a cliff.

A busy time for the Pope.

Anyway … when will we stop talking about the actual football and turn our thoughts to VAR? I will go for the 17th minute

No surprises in the Burnley team. They will be even more excited looking at the United side. I suspect McNeil will be happier to face Young than Wan Bissaka.

January transfer plans …

No Pogba, so they have dusted off Matic for the game. His last league appearance came in September.

Burnley: Pope, Bardsley, Taylor, Tarkowski, Mee, Cork, Hendrick, Westwood, McNeil, Barnes, Wood

Subs: Hart, Lowton, Gudmundsson, Drinkwater, Brady, Rodriguez, Long

Manchester United: De Gea, Young, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams, Fred, Matic, Pereira, James, Martial, Rashford

Subs: Romero, Jones, Mata, Lingard, Shaw, Greenwood, Wan-Bissaka.

Good evening!

Sean Dyche’s Burnley sit happily in mid-table and are not even looking over their shoulder, so will be very content with life. The squad and style are pretty much set and they will certainly make life difficult for a Manchester United team on a high after thrashing Newcastle.

Scott McTominay will be missing for United having knacked his knee on Boxing Day and it will be interesting to see how much the team misses him, especially up against a side as well-drilled as Burnley.

The Clarets will be ready to rough up United’s back four, even resting Ashley Barnes for the Everton defeat in order to ensure he would be raring to go against Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. The lack of McTominay should have meant a Premier League start for Paul Pogba after a couple of promising cameos in the last two games and he is someone United need if they are to challenge for the top four but he is absent again, it would seem.

Burnley’s back four impressed against Everton until the killer blow from Dominic Calvert-Lewin so will be looking to go one better against Rashford and Martial.

Anyway, it should be a cracker at Turf Moor.

Kick-off: 7.45pm (GMT)