Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s high flying Manchester United will face Burnley at Turf Moor next up in the Premier League. Avoiding defeat on Tuesday night will take the Reds to the summit of the league table ahead of rivals Liverpool. Putting a poor start to the season and a Champions League group stage exit behind, this United side are now serious title contenders, unbeaten in 10 league games since that home defeat to Arsenal.
Given the importance of this fixture, Solskjaer is expected to field a strong starting XI against the Clarets. Most of the regular first team players including their talisman Bruno Fernandes were rested in the FA Cup win over Watford in the weekend. Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Paul Pogba are all doubtful due to injuries and are likely to be rested for the game.
Veteran striker Edinson Cavani is available again having served his three-match ban imposed by the FA for racist comments. Let us now see how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might set his team up for this crucial game against Burnley.
THE 4-2-3-1
The 4-2-3-1 looks like the most likely formation that Solskjaer might use to promote attacking football against Burnley. David de Gea is expected to be back in goal behind the defence led by captain Harry Maguire. Eric Bailly has been solid at the back in the absence of Victor Lindelof and will be expected to accompany Maguire at the heart of the Red Devils’ defence.
The Red Devils have to be wary of the aerial threat from the Burnley side who have players like Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood up top. The Burnley centre-backs Ben Mee and Tarkowski who move up during set pieces are also a huge threat. Aaron Wan Bissaka is the undisputed option for Solskjaer on the right and Alex Telles would be looking to create chances from the left flank.
Solskjaer is likely to turn to the experienced Edinson Cavani who has performed brilliantly when needed instead of Anthony Martial up top. Martial has struggled for goals this season but might start on the left wing to cut inside and cause problems with his exceptional dribbling ability.
THE 4-4-2 (DIAMOND)
The 4-4-2 (Diamond) is another system in which United have flourished against defensive sides, in the lower half of the table.Summer signing Donny Van de Beek can add to United’s attacking output with his eye for goal and brilliant late runs into the box. The partnership of Rashford and Martial gives flexibility to their attacking shape as either of them can drift wide to spread the opposition defence.
Van de Beek was fantastic for the Red Devils against Watford as he completed the game with the maximum completed passes. The Dutch midfielder has shown that he is ready for the task at hand and will be eager to get a chance in the Premier League. Solskjaer might start him in the game as well because of the absence of Paul Pogba.
THE 3-5-2
The 3-5-2 is the least likely formation to be used by Solskjaer in the game against Burnley, as they themselves sit back and defend deep. This system has been used against sides that have a good attacking threat, which is exactly the opposite of what Burnley have. It has been a tough fixture for United in the last couple of season and they will want to make it better.
