PL PREVIEW: BURNLEY V BRIGHTON

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All you need to know about our return to Premier League action

2021-08-14T10:44:10.697Z

PL PREVIEW: BURNLEY V BRIGHTON

All you need to know about our return to Premier League action

2021-08-14T10:44:10.697Z

All you need to know about our return to Premier League action

CLARETS+ is now completley FREE! Listen to today's game for no cost. Simply register a free account and start listening today. FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK HERE

The Clarets face Brighton and Hove Albion at Turf Moor on the opening day of the 2021/22 Premier League season.

Turf Moor is free of capacity restrictions for the first time since Burnley drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in March 2020.

Sean Dyche’s team are starting their sixth successive Premier League campaign and will be hoping the presence of fans will help them secure a first league win at Turf Moor since their 3-2 comeback victory over Aston Villa in January.

“We’re in good shape. I think we’re in good mental shape and physical shape, so we’re looking forward to getting into Turf and having fans in and the feeling fans give to players," said Dyche.

“We look forward to the first game of the season as we always do.

“To have fans back in the stadium has got to be a positive sign, not just for football but across the sporting world.

“That’s good and we’re certainly looking forward to the season and taking on another challenge.”

The Clarets' impressive away form last season helped them recover from a seven-game winless run at the start of the campaign to finish 17th - 11 points clear of Fulham in the last relegation spot.

Brighton were one place above the Clarets and a further two points away from the drop zone.

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TEAM NEWS

• Nick Pope played the full 90 minutes in the pre-season friendly defeat to La Liga side Cadiz last Saturday and is expected to return to the Burnley side for his first Premier League appearance since a 2-0 win at Craven Cottage in May

• Last season’s top scorer Chris Wood returned from Olympics action with New Zealand and played the opening 45 minutes in that friendly

• Both Kevin Long and ex-Seagulls midfielder Dale Stephens are recovering from summer surgery

• Matt Lowton is out of isolation. He played in the mid-week training ground game after missing the last two pre-season games and is available

• For Brighton, England international defender Ben White left the club for Arsenal in a big summer move

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• Argentina star Alexi Mac Allister played in both the Copa America and the Olympic Games but is expected to be available for selection

• Former Chelsea defender Tariq Lamptey is a long-term absentee and there are doubts over the fitness of Dan Burn, Danny Welbeck, Kjell Scherpen and Moises Caicedo

• The Seagulls are expected to give a Premier League debut to Zambian international Enock Mwepu, who was signed from RB Salzburg last month. He will become only the fourth Zambian to play in the competition.

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FORM GUIDE

• The Clarets secured their Premier League safety last season with back-to-back away wins before going pointless for the final three games

• Last Saturday’s home defeat to Cadiz was Burnley’s first defeat of pre-season. They won all their previous games against Salford City, Morecambe, Oldham Athletic, Blackpool, Tranmere Rovers and Newcastle United

• Graham Potter’s side lost their last three away league games of last season at Sheffield United, Wolves and Arsenal

• The Seagulls drew 14 league games last season including both games against Burnley

• It was goalless at the Amex in November 2020 and the return fixture finished 1-1 at Turf Moor. Johann Berg Gudmundsson equalised after Albion skipper Lewis Dunk had given the visitors the lead

• Brighton also lost to Spanish opposition last Saturday. Getafe won 2-0 at the Amex with goals from Erick Cabaco and David Timor.

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OPPOSITION CAMP

Brighton boss Graham Potter knows that games between these two sides have been extremely tight.

Potter said: “Last year we got away with a draw at Burnley, but they should have won the game.

“Games against them are always tight. They’re a good side. With two sides fighting for the points, it will be interesting.”

The former Ostersund manager praised how well Burnley have done in recent seasons.

“They have that mentality. Of course, they will have seasons where they will do better than others. That’s football, that’s what it is. They are a really good example, I think, they’ve got a stability, an understanding, really good players that are underrated.

“Sean has done a fantastic job. They are really efficient in terns of what they do and how they play. They get the respect they deserve.”

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MATCH STATS

• Eight of the last 11 games between these two sides have ended in a draw

• If selected, Burnley winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson will play in his 200th English league game on Saturday. His first came for Charlton Athletic at Griffin Park in August 2014 with James Tarkowski in the Brentford side

• Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes could play against their former clubs. Both strikers were at Brighton when they won the League One title in 2010/11

• Wood has scored eight times against his former club including three for the Clarets

• Brighton’s Shane Duffy had a brief loan spell at Turf Moor when Eddie Howe was in charge. He made one appearance against Ipswich Town in April 2011

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OTHER INFORMATION

Referee: David Coote

VAR: Jarred Gillett

Kick-off: Saturday 14th August 2021, 3pm

How to watch/listen: Join us on Clarets+ from 2:45pm as Phil Bird is back on comms for our first game of the season! He will be joined by joined by ex-Burnley, Preston North End and Scotland winger Ross Wallace.

CLARETS+ is now completley FREE! Listen to today's game for no cost. Simply register a free account and start listening today. FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK HERE