Burnley look to bounce back from a dramatic defeat at Leicester last weekend as they welcome Southampton to Turf Moor in Saturday Night Football.
A home win could lift Sean Dyche’s Clarets as high as eighth depending on results earlier in the day, whereas Southampton can move out of the relegation zone with at least one point.
Team News
Robbie Brady could be available for Burnley if he passes a late fitness test on a rib injury suffered at Leicester last weekend in a 4-2 defeat.
James Tarkowski (toe) will also face a late fitness check whilst new signing, Dale Stephens is set to feature after recovering from a muscle strain.
Jay Rodriguez (ankle is doubtful and set to join Johann Berg Gudmundsson (knee), Ben Mee (thigh), Ashley Barnes (fitness) and Jack Cork (ankle) on sidelines.
Southampton could hand Mohamed Salisu his Saints debut if he can prove his fitness in time after missing their opening three matches in all competitions as he built up his fitness.
Nathan Redmond is the only definite absentee with an ankle injury.
Stat Attack
- Burnley are unbeaten in their last seven meetings against Southampton (W4, D3).
- Southampton are winless in their last seven trips to Turf Moor (D3, L4).
- In ten Premier League meetings between these teams, three out of four penalties have been scored with the Southampton the only team to miss one of two spot-kicks.
- There hasn’t been a red card dished out in any of last ten Premier League clashes between these teams.
- Southampton’s Alex McCarthy is just one of two players to have made more than one sweeper clearance already this season, producing three sweeper clearances alongside Manchester United’s David de Gea.
Prediction
Burnley will be disappointed to have lost last weekend’s trip to Leicester but they did look impressive going forward with good energy and sharpness, despite conceding twice because I could tell that the work rate was there despite it being their first league match of the new season.
Southampton on the other hand were just as good going forward but their defending continues to be woeful at best of times as Tottenham horrifically exposed on several occasions, which hopefully is an area which Ralph Hassenhuttl has changed tactic on ahead of this game.
If he hasn’t and Burnley turn out a much sharper display now they have game time and stronger fitness under their belt, I can see just one result here.
Prediction: Burnley 2-0 Southampton