Burnley v Chelsea – Match Preview | OneFootball

Burnley host Chelsea at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon, with the home side looking for their first win of the season against Frank Lampard’s men.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Premier League meeting on Saturday:

Form

Burnley: LLLDL

Every year in the top flight is always a battle for the Clarets, yet after making just one major summer signing in the form of midfielder Dale Stephens it looked as if this campaign could be one battle too many for Sean Dyche – even with a potential takeover on the horizon.

Those fears have become reality in the early stages of the season after a run of form that has seen them pick up just one point from their opening five Premier League fixtures. That solitary point came in the goalless draw with fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion, the first stalemate of what’s been a hugely enthralling league season so far.

The Clarets were much improved in the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday evening in fairness, with a late Heung-Min Son header all that separated the two sides. One factor that has no doubt plagued Dyche and co has been the absence of captain Ben Mee at the heart of the defence, while the usually effective front two of Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes are yet to get going.

As for the weekend, the home side will once again be without Mee and midfielder Jack Cork, while former Manchester United defender Phil Bardsley is unavailable after testing positive for COVID-19. Johann Berg Gundmundsson is doubtful with a calf issue.

Chelsea: LDWDD

After some erratic defending in the opening weeks of the season, the last week has seen the Blues register three successive clean sheets with new man Edouard Mendy impressing between the sticks.

Those three fixtures saw Chelsea held to goalless draws against both Sevilla and Manchester United, before romping to a 4-0 win over Russian outfit Krasnador in the Champions League on Tuesday evening courtesy of an Hakim Ziyech inspired display.

The Moroccan international was handed his first start for the club on the night and looked lively throughout, before capping his performance with a well taken goal to put his side three goals ahead.

That performance, as well as that of young Callum Hudson Odoi, served to illustrate the frightening depth in attack in the Chelsea squad and gives Frank Lampard plenty to think about ahead of the trip to Turf Moor.

As for Saturday’s fixture, Lampard will likely recall veteran defender Thiago Silva after he was left out in midweek, although Billy Gimour and Kepa Arrizabalaga remain out with injury.

Last Meeting – Chelsea 3-0 Burnley, 11 January 2020

Burnley fans will certainly be hoping for a different story on Saturday after they were comfortably beaten when the two sides last met back in January.

The home side were quickly ahead courtesy of a Jorginho penalty before Tammy Abraham doubled his side’s lead just before half-time. That lead was extended just after the interval, with a Cesar Azpilicueta cross finding Hudson-Odoi at the back post to put the game beyond doubt.

That result made it four successive Premier League defeats for the Clarets, while Chelsea ended a run of two home games without a goal.

Predicted Lineups:

Burnley: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Long, Taylor; Brownhill, Westwood, Stephens, McNeil; Barnes, Wood.

Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Zouma, Chilwell; Kante, Jorginho; Ziyech, Havertz, Mount, Werner.

Who is the referee?

David Coote

How can I watch?

UK readers can watch the game on BT Sport Box Office.

What time is kick off?

15:00 BST

Odds

Chelsea – 1/2

Burnley – 9/2

Draw – 15/4

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