PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Crystal Palace

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Build-up as the Clarets return to action at Turf Moor

2020-11-23T08:57:57.076Z

PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Crystal Palace

Build-up as the Clarets return to action at Turf Moor

2020-11-23T08:57:57.076Z

Build-up as the Clarets return to action at Turf Moor

The Clarets return to action on Monday evening knowing that a first win of the season will lift them out of the Premier League’s bottom three.

It’s as you were near the foot of the table following the weekend’s results, with Brighton the only side in the bottom six to pick up points.

Burnley will therefore go above West Bromwich Albion and Fulham and into 17th-place in the table if they can overcome a Crystal Palace side which has made an impressive start to the season.

Roy Hodgson’s side will go level on points with fifth-placed Southampton with a third away win of the season.

But the Clarets will be all out to prevent that and get their own season moving by breaking their Turf Moor duck.

That will require a first home goal of the season and after keeping clean sheets in two of their last four games, boss Sean Dyche knows clicking in front of goal is the missing piece in the jigsaw in the pursuit of an opening victory.

“With the clean sheets we’ve looked resilient and defensively organised,” said Dyche.

PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Crystal Palace - Image 1

“We’ve still got to tidy up in the attacking third, of course.

“We have created chances and not always taken them. “But can we create more and better quality? That’s what we’re looking to do, of course.

“And then if we can find that balance, we know historically we can deliver in the Premier League.”

Team news

The Clarets are expected to have defenders Phil Bardsley and Erik Pieters back in their squad.

Manager Sean Dyche is hopeful winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson will be fit to figure following a calf problem and that full-back Charlie Taylor will overcome a slight Achilles problem.

But wideman Robbie Brady is a doubt with a hamstring strain picked up on international duty.

Defender hungry to return as Clarets aim to reach round four

Midfielder Dale Stephens is still sidelined with a hamstring problem and Jack Cork is not yet ready to return.

Palace are without captain Luka Milivojevic through suspension and midfield colleague Eberechi Eze is being assessed after pulling out of England’s Under-21 squad.

Martin Kelly may not figure but fellow defenders Joel Ward, Tyrick Mitchell and James Tomkins are fit in a near full-strength squad.

Form guide

The Clarets are looking for their first points and goals at Turf Moor in the Premier League this season.

However, Sean Dyche’s men are unbeaten in two of their last four league games – keeping clean sheets in both of those fixtures between the last two international breaks.

PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Crystal Palace - Image 3

Crystal Palace – who have won on their last two visits to Turf Moor – have collected seven points from their last four games, with one defeat.

The Eagles beat Leeds United 4-1 in their last game before the break and away from home have lost two and won two to sit in ninth place in the table.

Wilfried Zaha is Palace’s leading scorer with five Premier League goals.

Opposition camp

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: “It’s only a few matches into the season and they (Burnley) have played one game less than us.

PL PREVIEW: Burnley v Crystal Palace - Image 4

“I don’t pay too much attention to that. In fact, I think last season they were quite lower down for long periods of the season and then they had a fantastic spurt and finished above us in the table.

“I pay far more attention to the quality of the team and what they are capable of doing. And the fact we have won there in the past, doesn’t mean you are going to win the next time around.”

Match stats

Defender James Tarkowski is set to make his 150th appearance for the Clarets with what would be his 129th appearance in the Premier League.

Burnley winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson is one appearance short of 100 in the top-flight.

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha is in line to make his 200th Premier League appearance.

The Clarets ended a run of four successive league defeats to Crystal Palace by winning 1-0 win at Selhurst Park in June.

The Eagles have lost six of their past eight away league fixtures either side of the summer break without scoring.

Palace haven't kept a clean sheet since the opening day of the season.

Referee

Kevin Friend

VAR

Anthony Taylor

Kick-off