Ralf Rangnick dropped points in the Premier League for the first time as United manager in a dismal 1-1 draw against joint-bottom Newcastle at St James' Park on Monday night, with his side still yet to score more than one goal in a single match. The German's side are now planted seven points adrift of the top four in seventh, though they do have two games in hand - as do Spurs two points ahead. United haven't been outside the top six at the turn of the year since the 1989/90 season.
Come Thursday night, it's already time to put the events of three days prior behind as Burnley travel to Old Trafford for the sides' final match of 2021.
Burnley currently find themselves 18th, two points from safety and a further five from 16th place. Essentially, United's last three league matches of the calendar year will have all been against sides inside the bottom three. However, Sean Dyche's side have seen four of their past seven scheduled matches postponed. Hereby, they are two matches down on 17th place Watford and three behind 16th Leeds United.
The first of Burnley's postponed matches came in late November, with their meeting with Tottenham postponed due to heavy snow in the north-west. Of their six matches proposed for December thus far, only the first three were played before Covid-19 ravaged the league. In all three of those matches, the latest on 12th December, Burnley failed to score and have only managed three shots on target overall; goalless draws against high-flying Wolves and West Ham sandwiched a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.
Prior to their first postponement back in November, Burnley also picked up points against Chelsea and Crystal Palace, beating Brentford in late October for their only win of the league campaign. Previous to this current run of only one defeat in seven matches, however, Dyche's men only picked up four points from their opening eight matches.
Burnley have only lost their final league game of a calendar year once in the last eight years, with the defeat coming against United in 2019. The Red Devils themselves are unbeaten in their final league match of a year since 2011, when they lost 3-2 to Blackburn at Old Trafford.
United have only lost once to Burnley in the past 13 league meetings, with that defeat a 2-0 humiliation at Old Trafford in January 2020. Since, United have won twice against Dyche's team, with a 1-0 away and 3-1 home win behind closed doors last season as Burnley finished a nervy 17th place. United haven't actually won three consecutive league fixtures against Burnley for the first time since between 1956 and 1957.
Burnley have "a couple" of Covid-19 concerns heading into this one, according to Sean Dyche. Maxwel Cornet has an "outside chance" of featuring following a thigh problem, with Connor Roberts, Dale Stephens and Ashley Barnes likely to miss out.
Meanwhile, United are without Victor Lindelof after he tested positive for Covid-19 last weekend. Paul Pogba remains out, though Jesse Lingard was spotted back with the squad. Eric Bailly was granted permission to travel to the Ivory Coast to prepare for AFCON, but has now been recalled due to United’s slight shortages at centre back.
Bruno Fernandes is a definite absentee having accumulated too many yellow cards, leading him to a one-game suspension. On that topic, Scott McTominay, Fred and Cristiano Ronaldo are all guaranteed suspension with a yellow card before they are wiped past this matchday.
On Edinson Cavani, Rangnick has admitted that he was "considering playing him from the start" on Monday, though "he didn’t feel comfortable to play from the beginning".
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