The Premier League is back in full swing, with Manchester United hosting Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur welcoming Bournemouth in a pair of intriguing Saturday fixtures. Both matches kick off at 3pm BST, though neither will be broadcast live on television in the UK due to the Saturday afternoon blackout. Highlights will be available later on the Sky Sports app and YouTube, with extended coverage on BBC One's "Match of the Day".
Manchester United vs. Burnley
Pressure is mounting on Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim as his team seeks their first Premier League victory of the season. After a disappointing defeat to Arsenal and a draw against Fulham, United were humiliated in the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town, a League Two side. Amorim has publicly expressed his frustration, stating he sometimes "hates his own players". A loss against Burnley could lead to uncomfortable discussions with club leadership during the international break.
Burnley, on the other hand, enters the match with momentum, having defeated Derby in the Carabao Cup and Sunderland in their previous league match. Manager Scott Parker is expected to give debuts to new signings as they aim to extend their winning streak.
Early team news suggests that Altay Bayindir will start in goal for Manchester United, replacing Andre Onana. Benjamin Sesko, who recently joined from RB Leipzig, could be in the starting XI. Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Bryan Mbeumo, Casemiro and Leny Yoro are also tipped to start. Burnley hopes to have Jordan Beyer and Connor Roberts available, but Zeki Amdouni and Manuel Benson are out. Armando Broja may make his debut against his former club, while Axel Tuanzebe could also feature.
Historically, Burnley has a decent record at Old Trafford, going up 2-0 in three consecutive seasons between 2017 and 2020. In their last visit, they secured a draw and had opportunities to win.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Bournemouth
Tottenham is enjoying a strong start to the season under new head coach Thomas Frank. They are "riding a wave of momentum" after a 3-0 victory over Burnley and an impressive 2-0 win against Manchester City. A third consecutive league win could see them top the table heading into the international break.
New signing Xavi Simons, who completed a £51 million move from RB Leipzig, will be presented to supporters before kickoff but is ineligible to play due to registration deadlines.
Bournemouth, despite losing key players in the summer transfer window, has a decent record in this fixture and is capable of causing an upset. Andoni Iraola's side gave Liverpool a real test on the opening day and secured a 1-0 win against Wolves.
Tottenham's Destiny Udogie is available after recovering from a knee injury, but Djed Spence is expected to continue at left-back. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined, along with Radu Dragusin and Kota Takia. Enes Unal, Julian Araujo and Lewis Cook are unavailable for Bournemouth.
Predicted Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Sarr; Kudus, Bergvall, Johnson; Richarlison.
Given Tottenham's form and defensive improvements, they are well-placed to continue their winning start.
