LONDON (AFP) – Manchester United face old nemesis Vincent Kompany at Burnley tonight in desperate need of a Premier League win while Arsenal host in-form Tottenham in a tantalising north London derby.
Struggling Chelsea take on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa and new-look Liverpool will look to make it five wins in a row against West Ham.
A trip to newly promoted Burnley would not usually strike fear into Manchester United hearts – they have only lost twice against the Clarets since 1968.
But Erik ten Hag’s team are leaking goals, struggling to score and desperately low on confidence.
The 13th-placed Red Devils have now lost 18 of their past 35 away matches in all competitions and pre-season belief has evaporated, with the club beset by problems on and off the pitch. Lying in wait tonight are Kompany’s Burnley, who are yet to win in the top flight since their promotion.
The former Manchester City captain will be desperate to pile on the pain for the Old Trafford club.
A frustrated Ten Hag, speaking after this week’s 4-3 defeat at Bayern Munich, said his team “have to look in the mirror” after costly defensive errors.
“You have to suffer sacrifices in such situations and to give everything and to stop it,” said the Dutchman.
“And only when we get that in, will we win games.”
Tottenham are thriving under new boss Ange Postecoglou – sitting second in the Premier League table, two places above bitter rivals Arsenal on goal difference.
Spurs laboured to an eighth-place finish last season after an underwhelming campaign during which they parted ways with Antonio Conte, but Postecoglou has transformed the mood.
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min is eager to right the wrongs after Arsenal completed a first league double in the fixture last season since 2014 and he feels the Gunners will be wary of his team.
“It’s going to be a really difficult game but they won’t want to face us at this time,” said the South Korean forward.
“We just have to give it everything we have and it will be a difficult game for both sides, but we’re looking forward to this game because it’s the right time to play against them. We’ll have a good game.”
