A matchup of the season or just a regular game between two Premier League outfits? You decide.
Burnley will be hosting Leicester City at Turf Moor on Saturday evening to fight it out for the 7th place of the points table. Both sides have been involved in a neck-on-neck battle for the entire season, even though Claude Puel’s men mostly playing catch up.
Leicester lost a crucial tie last weekend and curbed their chances of overtaking the hosts in the last stretch of the league campaign. Newcastle United put on a resolute display at King Power Stadium to win it 1-2 and collect maximum points in their battle for survival.
The Foxes were second best for almost the entire season and they got exposed in the previous fixture. Going to Lancashire and beating a defensively bolstered side will be tough but not impossible.
Burnley are enjoying their best season in England’s top-flight and quite rightfully have earned the name – ‘best of the rest’. It is quite astonishing to see the meteoric rise of the club within a three season time span.
Right after winning relegation two seasons back Sean Dyche have fought his way up to the top-half of the Premier League table and by the looks of it, is thriving in the 7th spot. Their defensive record is better than half of the teams ahead of them in the points table and are coming off an impressive 1-2 away win against Watford.
If anything it is their match to lose and maintaining that 4-game win streak will be high on their agenda.
Here is how the Burnley side might lineup on Saturday.
Formation:
Formation: 4-4-2
Defence
Nick Pope is the rightful choice in between the sticks with Tom Heaton yet to get into his stride for the season. The 25-year-old has played a key part in his team’s success this season and deserves to start on a regular basis.
He should be shielded by the centre-back pairing of James Tarkowski and Kevin Long. Matthew Lowton is expected to provide cover from the right and Charlie Taylor from the left.
Midfield
Steven Defour and Robbie Brady have also been ruled out with knee injuries.
That would ideally mean for Jeff Hendrick to feature from the central midfield role. However, he might get replaced by Ashley Westwood along with Jack Cork.
They might get flanked by Aaron Lennon from the right. Johann Berg Gudmundsson is doubtful for this tie due to a calf injury, which would Georges Kevin N’koudou to get a chance in the starting XI.
Attack
Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes are expected to pair up in the striker roles.
