Match Preview
Burnley vrs Fulham
Premier League Match Day 23 23/24 at Turf Moor
Saturday 3rd February 2024 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Darren Bond (Lancashire)
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Fulham clash with Burnley at Turf Moor in Saturday's Premier League showdown, both aiming to put a stop to miserable winless streaks
Squaring up to one of his old clubs, Everton, in West London, last time out Marco Silva witnessed his side enjoy 69% of the ball and let fly on 25 occasions, although Jordan Pickford was forced into just five saves, and the Cottagers were fortunate to even glean a point as Beto missed an aerial sitter at the other end of the pitch.
With scoring woes rearing their ugly heads again, Fulham's own top-flight status is not entirely secure as they languish in 13th place in the table,seven points above the dotted line.
From Fulham's six January fixtures across the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, Silva's men only managed to make the net ripple on three occasions, and for all of Burnley's shortcomings on home soil, the Cottagers have an aversion to picking up points on the road, where each of their last five games in the top flight have ended in defeat.
An opening-weekend win over Everton remains the last time that Fulham triumphed away from home in the top flight, and the head-to-head column also does not favour the Cottagers, whose 2-0 loss to Burnley at Craven Cottage in December marked their fourth defeat from their last five meetings against the Clarets.
Burnley were put to the sword 3-1 by Manchester City in their midweek affair, while Marco Silva's men settled for a point in a goalless draw at home to Everton.
Not the first and potentially not the last Pep Guardiola protege to endure a rude awakening at his old stomping ground, Burnley boss Vincent Kompany would have expected no favours from his former master in the Clarets' fight against the drop during their showdown with the treble winners on Wednesday.
There was particular reason for Julian Alvarez to celebrate on his 24th birthday, as the Argentine propelled the Citizens into a two-goal lead early doors, and Rodri put the game out of sight for Man City early in the second half before Ameen Al-Dakhil gave the away end something to cheer in added time.
Still on a one-way path back down to the Championship, Burnley occupy 19th place in the Premier League standings with a seven-point gap to make up to 17th-placed Luton Town - who also have a game in hand - and basement boys Sheffield United are still within touching distance of the Clarets.
Few would have foreseen Kompany's side going toe-to-toe with the Premier League champions, and Burnley could pat themselves on the back for avoiding a hiding against the treble winners, although the Clarets boss still lamented the avoidable nature of the goals his side shipped on the Etihad soil.
Returning to Turf Moor turf, Burnley still hold the unwanted honour of being the Premier League's worst-performing home team this season - accruing just four points from 33 on offer at their headquarters - although one of those points did come when Luton Town paid a visit on January 12.
Burnley's winless run in all tournaments stretched to five games with their midweek defeat. a
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Fulham have been beaten in five of their past seven Premier League games versus Burnley and are in danger of losing three consecutive fixtures against them for the first time since March 1981.
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Burnley are unbeaten in 28 home league games against Fulham since losing 2-0 at Turf Moor in April 1951 (W22, D6). It is the longest undefeated run against an opponent at home in the Clarets' league history.
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Fulham won 5-0 in back-to-back games in early December but have earned just one victory in their subsequent six league fixtures, failing to score five times.
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The Cottagers haven't scored in 10 Premier League matches this season, more than any other side.
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The Londoners have lost six of their past eight top-flight away games against promoted sides, with their only win in this sequence coming at Nottingham Forest last season.
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They have conceded 24 away league goals this season, matching their final total in 2022-23.
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Marco Silva's team are winless in 10 Premier League away matches (D3, L7), losing the last five in a row and failing to score in each of the past three.
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Vincent Kompany's side have the worst home record in this season's Premier League, losing nine of 11 matches and taking just four points.
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They have lost 16 top-flight games in the current campaign, just one fewer than their final figure when relegated in 2021-22.
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Burnley's tally of 12 points is their joint lowest at this stage of a season, equalling their total after 22 games in 1970-71 (adjusted to three points for a win), when they went on to be relegated.
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They have lost each of the last 19 top-flight fixtures in which they fell behind.
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The Clarets have scored a Premier League-high 32% of their goals from outside the penalty area this season (seven of 22), but their tally of 15 goals from inside the box is the the lowest in the division.
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Josh Brownhill is one shy of 100 Premier League appearances.
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Source Ben Knapton at SportsMole