Burnley Vs Manchester United Preview
By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent)
Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01
Like I’ve said before — and I’ll say it again — this was always coming. The only surprise is how it happened. Ruben Amorim has been sacked, not purely because of results, but because he finally said what the board didn’t want to hear. That post-match press conference after the 1-1 draw at Elland Road sealed his fate. Calling out the board publicly for broken promises and a lack of signings was never going to end well.
So here we are. Manchester United head to Turf Moor with Darren Fletcher in charge.
United kicked off 2026 with a 1-1 draw against Leeds, thanks to a Cunha goal in a game that honestly could have gone either way. But the football almost felt secondary. The real fire came afterward, when Amorim openly questioned the club’s direction. That was the final straw. For me, this still doesn’t change the fact that he has been one of the worst managers in the club’s history — but the way he went says a lot about the problems higher up.
Now the big question: can United get that so-called “new manager bounce” and finally pick up a win at Turf Moor?
United come into this game sitting sixth in the table. Depending on other results, a win could push them up to fourth or fifth. On paper, this is another must-win game against a struggling side. But we’ve all watched this team long enough to know that nothing is ever straightforward. The manager may have changed, but the board and the system are still very much the same.
There is some good news. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are available, though both will likely have their minutes managed. Even limited, their presence alone raises United’s chances. The question is whether that will be enough.
Off the pitch, the noise continues. INEOS are proving to be a difficult group to work under, but it’s being reported that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to returning as caretaker until the end of the season. If that happens, he could even be back in the dugout for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
So let me ask you directly — are you happy with Ole coming back, or are you firmly in the “never go back to your ex” camp?
Personally, I’m not a fan of the idea. It feels like a distraction tactic. INEOS clearly don’t want to spend in January, and bringing back Ole — a fan favourite — feels like a move designed to calm supporters rather than fix real problems. The plan might be short-term, but we all know how quickly narratives change. Suddenly the Class of ’92 will be defending him again, and we’ll be right back where we started.
What this club needs is an experienced, elite manager with clear attacking ideas and enough authority that the board can’t interfere. Someone in the mould of Luis Enrique — a big personality, clear identity, no nonsense. But I want to hear your thoughts. Who would you want?
For now, Darren Fletcher takes charge in gameweek 21. Amorim leaves United sixth, level on points with Chelsea and just three points off the top four. Champions League football is still very much achievable, but serious issues remain — especially defensively.
Away from home, United were a mess under Amorim. Just two clean sheets in 24 Premier League away games tells its own story. The current run of 15 straight away matches without a clean sheet is the club’s worst since the late 1970s. Even against teams in the relegation zone, United rarely looked secure.
At least Fletcher has one positive to lean on: Matheus Cunha. He’s in good form, with three goals in his last five league games, and he has a habit of hurting newly promoted sides.
Burnley, however, have problems of their own. Scott Parker could be missing up to 10 players. Top scorer Zian Flemming is unlikely to feature, and Josh Cullen’s ACL injury has been a huge blow. Their form tells the rest of the story — winless in 11 league games and firmly in relegation trouble.
Burnley have picked up just 12 points from 20 matches and sit 19th, six points from safety. That’s relegation form, no debate.
So the questions remain:
Do these United players finally step up?
Was Amorim holding them back?
Can Darren Fletcher spark even a short-term reaction?
Drop your score predictions below.
Manchester United record against Burnley:
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Games won: |
68 |
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Games drawn: |
25 |
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Games lost: |
45 |
Team News:
(As of today 06/01/2026)
Burnley: Josh Cullen, Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts, Joe Worrall, Zian Flemming and Jordan Beyer are ruled out. Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri, and Lyle Diallo are unavailable due to AFCON duty.
Manchester United: Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, and Matthijs de Ligt are out injured. Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo are unavailable due to AFCON duty.
Prediction:
Defensively, United are still fragile, and with no real movement expected in January, I honestly see more struggles ahead. Staying in the top 10 might even come down to luck. That said, anything other than a win here is unacceptable. Lose this, and INEOS deserve every bit of criticism coming their way.
Burnley 1-2 Manchester United
It is the year 2025, and the frontrunner to win the Ballon d'Or is Ousmane Dembele, forward for Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team. The road to this point has been far from smooth, but this is the end point nonetheless. PSG are the undisputed and unquestionable kings of Europe, winning the European Cup in any format for the first time in their history - a significant feat not just for a team only founded in 1970, but one for the Qatari Sports Investment project which has been hell-bent on continental domination since their takeover in 2011. Luis Enrique's side will be remembered for years to come for their tiki taka-lite style based on fluidity and slick possession football, and at the forefront of their success has been Dembele. With the Ballon d'Or now judged on a seasonal basis - as should have always been the case, thank you, France Football - it is a campaign that should end with Dembele lifting the prestigious Golden Ball in his home country.
Historic Exchange Under Istanbul Agreement In the largest prisoner swap since the full-scale war began, Russia and Ukraine have each released 390 prisoners—comprising 270 military personnel and 120 civilians—as part of an overall 1,000-for-1,000 agreement negotiated during direct talks in Istanbul earlier in May. BBC+4www.ndtv.com+4Deutsche Welle+4Anadolu Ajansı+15Reuters+ Departures and Arrivals Ukrainian returnees arrived in the Chernihiv region, many visibly frail with shaved heads and draped in national flags, greeted by emotional reunions with relatives amid cheers and tears. Reuters+4 The Washington +4 The Daily Star +4. Some had been held in captivity for nearly two years. Russian returnees, including soldiers and civilians captured during a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk region, were first transported to Belarus for medical and psychological evaluation before being repatriated ussia. BBC+3Reuters+3 The Guardian +3. Emotional Homecomings and Lingering Uncertainty Families crowded the exchange sites, clutching photographs of missing loved ones, hoping for a clue from those stepping off the buses. One Ukrainian newly freed veteran, held for more than 830 days, encouraged others not to lose hope: “In every prison there are many guys who had no contact with their relatives. I was the same,” he said The Guardian+10The Washington Post+10The Guardian+10. But for many, the reunion came with heavy uncertainty about family members still unaccounted for. Political Messages and Future Prospects President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the swap as the only tangible outcome of the Istanbul talks and emphasized continued efforts to bring all detainees home. Hromadske The Washington PostThe Guardian. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov promised that Moscow would submit a draft peace proposal following the exchange but reiterated refusal of a ceasefire unless certain conditions were met—terms Ukraine has rejected, according to Reuters The Guardian. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who helped push for the Istanbul negotiations, congratulated both parties via his social media platform, calling the swap a possible step toward broader peace, though no ceasefire has been agreed upon, according to Reuters and the New York Post. Humanitarian Milestone Amid Ongoing Conflict This first phase swap underscores a rare moment of cooperation in a conflict that has otherwise deepened across Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions. While a few hundred lives have been restored to families, thousands remain in captivity, and both sides show no signs of halting hostilities. Negotiations may continue in coming days as both governments prepare for the next instalment of releases under the "1,000-for-1,000" agreement. For now, the tranche of 390 each represents the largest exchange of its kind since the war began.
North Korea has begun an investigation into an accident that occurred during the launch of a new warship this week, state media said Friday, assessing the damage as "not serious". North Korea said Thursday that "a serious accident occurred" at the Wednesday launch ceremony for the newly built 5,000-ton naval destroyer, in which sections of the bottom of the vessel were crushed -- with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act". North Korea has begun an investigation into an accident that occurred during the launch of a new warship this week, state media said Friday, assessing the damage as "not serious". North Korea said Thursday that "a serious accident occurred" at the Wednesday launch ceremony for the newly built 5,000-ton naval destroyer, in which sections of the bottom of the vessel were crushed -- with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act". Technology stocks led the gains in the U.S., with Apple (AAPL) up 1.8% and Nvidia (NVDA) jumping 2.4%, as demand for AI and semiconductors remains strong. Tesla (TSLA) also rebounded, rising 3.1% after announcing better-than-expected Q2 vehicle deliveries. Global stock markets showed a mixed performance as investors weighed persistent inflation concerns against a wave of corporate earnings reports. While strong results from major tech companies helped lift some indexes, uncertainty surrounding central bank policies and the future path of interest rates kept others in check. In the U.S.,
Arsenal and Manchester City played out a dramatic 1-1 draw on Sunday, with the two Premier League rivals unable to be separated through 98 or so minutes. Erling Haaland had given the visitors an early lead, before Pep Guardiola remarkably decided to park the bus to try and sneak the win. Those efforts went up in smoke in added time as Gabriel Martinelli scored to clinch a point for the Gunners. Having both slipped up domestically already this season, this wasn't quite a 'must win' affair for either side, but definitely more of a 'must not lose'. In the end, perhaps a draw in which neither team showed much attacking endeavour will please both parties. City seemed content to sit in and create chances on the break, while Arsenal didn't exactly throw the kitchen sink at their visitors in order to force the leveller. It was a pretty just outcome and neither can really have any complaints about how it ended.
Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant.Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant
Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 Three wins in a row. Honestly, is this the same Manchester United Ruben Amorim said were “not ready to compete”? It took Amorim 47 matches to achieve three consecutive league wins. Michael Carrick has done it in just three weeks — and not against small opposition either, but by beating the top two teams in the league along the way. This isn’t a fluke. Sometimes football really is simple: play players in their natural positions and trust the system. That said, there are still concerns. The defence remains a question mark. Conceding two late goals against Fulham after leading comfortably until the 85th minute showed how quickly concentration can disappear. Heads were lost, but Benjamin Šeško’s late winner saved the day and sealed Carrick’s third straight league victory. Now comes another serious test — Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs showed character last weekend, coming back from two goals down against our city rivals Manchester City to earn a 2–2 draw. That alone tells you this won’t be straightforward. On paper, it’s one of the tastiest matchups of the weekend. The January transfer window is now closed, and once again, Manchester United failed to strengthen. This was one of the few things Amorim kept pushing for — even though I never supported him. A left winger is clearly needed, especially with the formation now changed. With Casemiro set to leave, the need for a defensive midfielder has become urgent. Anyone watching this team closely can see it: when Casemiro leaves the pitch, his presence, leadership, and aura leave with him. Ugarte can’t replace that, and neither can Mainoo at this stage. United need two defensive midfielders and a natural left winger — no debates. These must be priorities in the summer. What would have really helped Carrick was a loan signing on the left wing just to push us through the second half of the season. The board failed again. And honestly, they have to go — that’s my verdict. Manchester United will be aiming to make it four wins from four under interim boss Michael Carrick when they welcome Spurs to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime. The last meeting between the two sides ended in a dramatic 2–2 draw back in August, with Matthijs de Ligt rescuing a point deep into stoppage time in North London. One interesting pattern under Carrick: United are unbeaten in all nine Premier League matches this season where they’ve had less possession than their opponents (W7 D2). In fact, they’ve won all seven games where they’ve had under 45% of the ball. Compare that to just four wins in 15 matches when dominating possession, and it’s clear where this team feels more comfortable. Confidence is flowing again around Old Trafford. United currently sit fourth in the table, one point clear of Chelsea and two ahead of Liverpool. A win this weekend would see them surpass last season’s 42 total points tally with 13 games still remaining. Bruno Fernandes continues to lead by example. The captain has more assists than any other Premier League player this season (12), matching his best-ever league return. He’s expected to operate once again in an advanced central role behind the striker. History hasn’t been kind to United recently in this fixture. They’re winless in their last six league games against Spurs — drawing three and losing three — their joint-longest run without a win against Tottenham. Still, the Opta supercomputer gives United a 50% chance of victory, making them favourites at Old Trafford. Tottenham, under Thomas Frank, have enjoyed a strong recent run against United, going eight games unbeaten — the second-longest streak any team has managed against the Red Devils this century. Spurs’ season has been strange. They’ve struggled badly at home, but showed real fight against City last weekend. After a dreadful first half, they took advantage of City easing off and clawed their way back thanks to two Dominic Solanke goals — including a fortunate but brilliant scorpion kick. Despite that comeback, Spurs are now winless in their last six league games and sit 14th in the table — closer to the relegation zone than the top five. Last season, Spurs won this fixture 3–0 at Old Trafford, with Van de Ven dominant at both ends. But in the Premier League era, they’ve only ever won consecutive away games here once. This feels like United’s best chance to beat Spurs this season. Momentum is on our side, and with Liverpool facing Manchester City this weekend, there’s a real opportunity to create breathing space in the top-four race. Yes, the next match after this is even tougher — West Ham away — which makes this one even more important. We have to capitalise on home advantage. Comment below with your score predictions! Manchester United record against Tottenham: Games won: 96 Games drawn: 52 Games lost: 58 Team News: (As of today 06/02/2026) Manchester United: De ligt, Mount and Dorgu are out. Tottenham: James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall and Kevin Danso all remain sidelined with injuries. Prediction: Only Burnley (23) and Wolves (21) have conceded more first-half goals than Tottenham (18) in the Premier League this season. Spurs are also winless in all 10 top-flight games when trailing at the break this term (D3 L7) and are unbeaten in all six when leading at half time (W5 D1), so a fast start from Frank’s men could be crucial if they wish to claim a positive result this weekend. Tottenham’s weakness is clear. They struggle badly when trailing at half-time, and they’ve conceded far too many first-half goals this season. Start fast, be ruthless, and finish the job better than we did against Fulham — and the points should stay in Manchester. The defence still worries me, but if United attack with intent, this is there for the taking. Manchester United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Burnley Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 Like I’ve said before — and I’ll say it again — this was always coming. The only surprise is how it happened. Ruben Amorim has been sacked, not purely because of results, but because he finally said what the board didn’t want to hear. That post-match press conference after the 1-1 draw at Elland Road sealed his fate. Calling out the board publicly for broken promises and a lack of signings was never going to end well. So here we are. Manchester United head to Turf Moor with Darren Fletcher in charge. United kicked off 2026 with a 1-1 draw against Leeds, thanks to a Cunha goal in a game that honestly could have gone either way. But the football almost felt secondary. The real fire came afterward, when Amorim openly questioned the club’s direction. That was the final straw. For me, this still doesn’t change the fact that he has been one of the worst managers in the club’s history — but the way he went says a lot about the problems higher up. Now the big question: can United get that so-called “new manager bounce” and finally pick up a win at Turf Moor? United come into this game sitting sixth in the table. Depending on other results, a win could push them up to fourth or fifth. On paper, this is another must-win game against a struggling side. But we’ve all watched this team long enough to know that nothing is ever straightforward. The manager may have changed, but the board and the system are still very much the same. There is some good news. Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are available, though both will likely have their minutes managed. Even limited, their presence alone raises United’s chances. The question is whether that will be enough. Off the pitch, the noise continues. INEOS are proving to be a difficult group to work under, but it’s being reported that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to returning as caretaker until the end of the season. If that happens, he could even be back in the dugout for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford. So let me ask you directly — are you happy with Ole coming back, or are you firmly in the “never go back to your ex” camp? Personally, I’m not a fan of the idea. It feels like a distraction tactic. INEOS clearly don’t want to spend in January, and bringing back Ole — a fan favourite — feels like a move designed to calm supporters rather than fix real problems. The plan might be short-term, but we all know how quickly narratives change. Suddenly the Class of ’92 will be defending him again, and we’ll be right back where we started. What this club needs is an experienced, elite manager with clear attacking ideas and enough authority that the board can’t interfere. Someone in the mould of Luis Enrique — a big personality, clear identity, no nonsense. But I want to hear your thoughts. Who would you want? For now, Darren Fletcher takes charge in gameweek 21. Amorim leaves United sixth, level on points with Chelsea and just three points off the top four. Champions League football is still very much achievable, but serious issues remain — especially defensively. Away from home, United were a mess under Amorim. Just two clean sheets in 24 Premier League away games tells its own story. The current run of 15 straight away matches without a clean sheet is the club’s worst since the late 1970s. Even against teams in the relegation zone, United rarely looked secure. At least Fletcher has one positive to lean on: Matheus Cunha. He’s in good form, with three goals in his last five league games, and he has a habit of hurting newly promoted sides. Burnley, however, have problems of their own. Scott Parker could be missing up to 10 players. Top scorer Zian Flemming is unlikely to feature, and Josh Cullen’s ACL injury has been a huge blow. Their form tells the rest of the story — winless in 11 league games and firmly in relegation trouble. Burnley have picked up just 12 points from 20 matches and sit 19th, six points from safety. That’s relegation form, no debate. So the questions remain: Do these United players finally step up? Was Amorim holding them back? Can Darren Fletcher spark even a short-term reaction? Drop your score predictions below. Manchester United record against Burnley: Games won: 68 Games drawn: 25 Games lost: 45 Team News: (As of today 06/01/2026) Burnley: Josh Cullen, Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts, Joe Worrall, Zian Flemming and Jordan Beyer are ruled out. Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri, and Lyle Diallo are unavailable due to AFCON duty. Manchester United: Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, and Matthijs de Ligt are out injured. Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo are unavailable due to AFCON duty. Prediction: Defensively, United are still fragile, and with no real movement expected in January, I honestly see more struggles ahead. Staying in the top 10 might even come down to luck. That said, anything other than a win here is unacceptable. Lose this, and INEOS deserve every bit of criticism coming their way. Burnley 1-2 Manchester United
Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01 Manchester United and Wolves close out Gameweek 15 on Monday, December 8th, 2025—a meeting between two sides desperate for consistency, even if their situations differ sharply. Wolves still haven’t won a single league match this season, sitting on just two points, yet United’s inconsistency means nothing is guaranteed. The Red Devils can move up to fifth with a win, but can these players maintain 80% focus for 90 straight minutes? United dropped points again on Thursday, drawing 1–1 with West Ham after taking the lead through Diogo Dalot. Instead of pushing for a second goal, United sat back and defended from the 60th minute onward—a decision Amorim reinforced by substituting Zirkzee and Cunha for Ugarte and Mount. Despite trying to shift responsibility onto player mentality in his post-match comments, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Amorim is the wrong fit for Manchester United. His decisions lack ambition, his in-game control remains questionable, and the team repeatedly collapses under pressure. Behind the scenes, tension is growing. The Glazers—still the majority shareholders—are reportedly unhappy with Amorim’s impact on both performances and commercial value. They believe poor results affect the club’s global brand. INEOS, however, is still backing the Portuguese coach since they oversee football operations. Sources suggest Amorim is being closely monitored throughout December, and his future may depend on these festive fixtures. The Glazers seem ready to pull the trigger, but INEOS is resisting—for now. Wolves have been given a 25.6% chance of earning their first win of the season, while Manchester United win 51.2% of Opta’s simulations. United lost this fixture last season but haven’t suffered consecutive league defeats at Molineux since 1980. Despite broader frustrations, United’s away form is surprisingly strong. They have gone four Premier League away games unbeaten (W2, D2), after previously enduring an eight-match winless run on the road. Their last longer away streak was a seven-match run in 2021–22. Monday marks Matheus Cunha’s return to Molineux following his move to Manchester. His record at Wolves’ home ground is excellent—11 goal contributions in his last 12 Premier League games there. United also have Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo entering the match in good form, while Wolves struggle desperately. Rob Edwards’ side is now winless in 14 games (D2, L12) and sitting on the worst start to a Premier League season since Sheffield United in 2020–21. Their last two matches ended in narrow 1–0 defeats to Forest and Aston Villa, making it seven straight league losses. To add to their problems, they have failed to score in their last five league matches—one of the bleakest spells in their top-flight history. Yet Wolves fans will remember last season well: they beat Manchester United home and away. United have not lost back-to-back matches at Molineux for 45 years, but history can repeat itself if this team switches off again. Given Wolves’ terrible form—but also their double over United last season—would you accept a 1–1 draw on Monday? Or do you believe this struggling United side must take all three points? Drop your score predictions below! Manchester United record against Wolves: Games won: 56 Games drawn: 20 Games lost: 39 Team News: (As of today 07/12/2025,) Wolves: Joao Gomes. Marshall Munetsi, Ladislav Krejci, Fer Lopez, Hugo Bueno, Rodrigo Gomes, Leon Chiwome and Daniel Bentley are out of this game. Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko, Harry Maguire and De Ligt are out for this game. Prediction: United always seem to collapse whenever the teams above them drop points and they have a chance to climb into the top four—but this is a match they have no excuse to drop. A win is not only expected… it is necessary. Anything less should make “Amorim Out” a serious conversation. Wolves 1-3 Manchester United.
