2024-25 Sky Bet Championship: Week One – Monday

The opening weekend of 2024-25 Sky Bet Championship season concludes at Kenilworth Road as Luton host Burnley.

Having both suffered relegation from the Premier League at end of last season, Luton and Burnley will look to begin their quest for promotion on a positive note.

 

Team News

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Daiki Hashioka (unspecified) and Teden Mengi (knee) are doubts for Luton.

Amari’i Bell (hamstring), Reece Burke (Achilles), Marvelous Nakamba, Jacob Brown (both knee) and Tom Lockyer (illness) remain absent.

Burnley will be without Mike Tresor for an unspecified reason.

Jordan Beyer (thigh), Ameen Al-Dakhil (unspecified), Nathan Redmond (hamstring) and Aaron Ramsay (knee) remain sidelined.

Vaclav Hladky, Etienne Green, Shurandy Sambo, Lucas Pires and Andreas Hountondji could make their competitive debuts for the Clarets.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Luton host Burnley at Kenilworth Road on Monday 12 August at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports Football in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Luton are winless in their last eight league meetings against Burnley (D4, L4).
• Burnley are unbeaten in eight of their last ten league visits to Luton (W7, D1, L2).
• Luton conceded first in each of their last three clashes against Burnley.
• Three of Luton’s 10 goals in pre-season were scored by Carlton Morris.
• Burnley have scored 16 goals in 10 of their last 11 competitive matches.

 

Prediction

Aside from losing Ross Barkley to Aston Villa, Luton have done well to retain the core squad but I would like to see them sort out their defensive play this season, especially if want promotion because their back line was their downfall last campaign.

Burnley meanwhile have the depth needed for a promotion challenge even if key players leave, but they will need a bit of time to adapt and gel in regard to new players and Scott Parker’s arrival as manager.

Parker also does have a slight issue in Wout Weghorst who doesn’t really want second-tier action, but this might be a chance for the Dutchman to show his talent to try and secure a transfer later in the window.

I am therefore expecting a close contest between two solid promotion contenders, and a draw might be a decent starting point if both teams can hit the ground running.

Prediction: Luton 1-1 Burnley

Result: Luton 1-4 Burnley