Burnley meet Sunderland in a huge Premier League encounter between two of the three promoted teams.
Victory will lift Burnley out of the relegation zone, whilst Sunderland can go top with a win if Manchester City and Tottenham draw in the lunchtime kick-off.
Team News
Connor Roberts is ruled out for Burnley with a knee injury, which forced him to miss their 3-0 defeat at Tottenham on the opening weekend of the season.
Armando Broja and Axel Tuanzebe face late fitness tests ahead of their potential club debuts.
Bashir Humphreys (quad), Jordan Beyer (knee), Zeki Amdouni (ACL) and Manuel Benson (Achilles) are still ruled out.
Sunderland manager, Regis Le Bris could hand new signing, Nordi Mukiele his club debut in defence.
Jenson Seelt is also set to feature after he recovered from a minor injury suffered in their 3-0 home win over West Ham.
Aji Alese, Luke O’Nien (both shoulder), Leo Hjelde (Achilles), Romaine Mundle (hamstring) and Dennis Cirkin (wrist) are still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Burnley host Sunderland at Turf Moor on Saturday 23 August at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Burnley have avoided defeat in four of six previous Premier League meetings against Sunderland (W2, D2, L2).
- Sunderland are yet to win away at Burnley in the Premier League (D1, L2).
- Each of Sunderland’s last two league visits to Burnley have ended in 0-0 draws, albeit in the Championship.
- Burnley are unbeaten in their last 23 home games (W14, L9).
- Sunderland have avoided defeat in three of their last five away games (W2, D1, L2), excluding last season’s Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium on neutral territory.
Prediction
Having struggled defensively to deal with Tottenham’s wide play in their defeat last weekend, Burnley will be glad to be back at their home fortress but this already feels do-or-die for their hopes of avoiding a relegation scrap as their next five matches are very difficult.
Sunderland meanwhile weathered the Hammers’ first-half storm as they found their feet before they delivered a ruthlessly clinical second-half display, which will do their confidence plenty of good coming into this clash which won’t be easy if Burnley can bring last season’s unbeaten home form into the top flight.
I however do feel that Sunderland should have too much quality if they bring the same intensity and the Clarets can’t tighten up defensively to deal with crosses, which was their weak point in North London.
Prediction: Burnley 0-1 Sunderland
Result: Burnley 2-0 Sunderland