Burnley vs Newcastle United; Premier League
Burnley vs Newcastle United. Premier League.
Turf MoorAttendance19,798.
Burnley vs Newcastle preview
Watch match highlights at 5.15pm on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app
Monday 30 December 2019 11:58, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Burnley vs Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday.
Team news
Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez will be available for Saturday's Premier League clash with Newcastle despite breaking a finger. The frontman fractured the little finger on his left hand in training on Tuesday, but is expected to take his place in the squad wearing a protective cast.
Ashley Barnes and Ashley Westwood could both return from groin injuries after resuming training, and Phil Bardsley was expected to join them on Friday following his recovery from a knock, but Charlie Taylor (hamstring) remains a doubt and Kevin Long (hip) and Johann Berg Gudmundsson (hamstring) are unavailable.
Jonjo Shelvey (calf) and Miguel Almiron (hamstring) are doubts for Newcastle as head coach Steve Bruce faces up to an injury crisis.
Allan Saint-Maximin is expected to be sidelined for a month with the hamstring tear he suffered during last weekend's 2-1 win over Southampton, while Ciaran Clark (calf) has joined DeAndre Yedlin (hip), Jamaal Lascelles (fractured tibia) and Matt Ritchie (ankle) on the casualty list. Ki Sung-yueng (illness) is also out.
How to follow
Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Opta stats
- Burnley have lost just one of their last six home league meetings with Newcastle (W4 D1), though it did come in this exact fixture last season.
- After drawing three and losing one of their first four Premier League meetings with Burnley, Newcastle won both fixtures against the Clarets last season.
- This is the seventh Premier League meeting between Burnley and Newcastle, but the first to take place on a weekend day, with the others coming on each day of the week between Monday and Thursday.
- Burnley haven't won a Premier League game in which they've conceded a goal since April (3-1 vs Bournemouth), drawing four and losing 11 since then. The Clarets have lost their last three Premier League games by an aggregate score of 1-11.
- Newcastle are looking to win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since November 2018 under Rafael Benítez. Meanwhile, manager Steve Bruce hasn't won three straight games in the competition since January 2009 with Wigan (a run of four).
- Newcastle's average possession figure this season is just 32.8%, the lowest in the Premier League. The Magpies are the only side yet to have more possession than their opponents in a single Premier League match this season.
- Burnley (326) and Newcastle (305) have played fewer passes per game than any other Premier League side this season. These two sides also play a higher proportion of long passes than any other side in the competition (Burnley 21.6%, Newcastle 19.7%).
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
it is a very tough fixture. I suggested that Steve Bruce was ahead of Rafael Benitez with the job he has been doing, which people argued by saying Rafa did a great job. I never said he didn't, but Bruce has been getting these guys going. Allan Saint-Maximin's injury will be a big blow and they are still going to be in a relegation scrap in my opinion.
Bruce knows how to set these teams up, he knows how to tighten defensively, but he had to keep Miguel Almiron in the team - he gives something to the team. Burnley are so inconsistent and are liable to make mistakes at the back. They rely too much on Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood. They are a very good pair but there will be one day where one is cold and the other has the stress and strain. They did well for a while but you need goals from wide areas or midfield to complement this too. I can't separate them and Newcastle will get something again.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Super 6: Honours even at Turf Moor?
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