The search for three points continues for Louis van Gaal who faces the man known as 'The Ginger Mourinho' in East Lancashire and his Burnley side looking for the first point in the 2014/15 Premier League season.
Team News
BURNLEY
Sean Dyche can recall the senior players he rested when the Clarets fell at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup. Danny Ings, Tom Heaton and Michael Duff the key players to return.
24-year-old striker Sam Vokes remains on the sidelines with a long term knee injury while 18-year-old Cameron Dummigan has a hip injury.
MANCHESTER UNITED
While Sean Dyche's Burnley side are close to a clean bill of health van Gaal's United side not only lack the quality to challenge for the title yet lack the players to form their best side.
“I cannot change the law of Argentina! I am the manager of the biggest club in the world but cannot change the law. It’s only a matter of time.” - van Gaal on Rojo work permit
Marcos Rojo joined United more than a week ago but has yet to be granted a work permit so will not feature at Turf Moor but club record signing Angel Di Maria is available and ready to play. Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini both have ankle/foot injuries and won't be available for selection until September 14th as well as Luke Shaw who has a hamstring injury. Michael Carrick is still more than a month away from returning to action, the realistic date of return supposedly October 5th. Shinji Kagawa is on his way to recovering from concussion that forced him to be subsituted early on in United's 4-0 defeat to MK Dons on Tuesday. Chris Smalling's groin injury is unlikely to have 'healed' by Saturday lunchtime and Jesse Lingard's knee injury suffered in the opening game of the season against Swansea City is expected to keep him out of the third Premier League matchday. Van Gaal also revealed in his press conference on Friday that Rafael da Silva and Sam Johnstone would not be available.
MATCH PREVIEW
On Tuesday, both sides crashed out of the Premier League. Burnley's 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday could be found in the corner of the sport section yet Manchester United's embarrassing 4-0 loss to MK Dons was splattered all over the back pages.
"We have to look at the future. We are doing that now with Manchester United by restoring and rebuilding a new team. That takes time - I am sorry to say that for the fans because they are amazing, in my opinion. We were at MK Dons and lost 4-0 and they were singing and supporting the players. I think it is fantastic that we have such fans. I hope we shall fulfil their expectations but it is not done in one month, in spite of our wins against Real Madrid or Liverpool. Of course, we have to win and give results. Hopefully we will start on Saturday at Burnley." - Louis van Gaal
Di Maria's arrival at Old Trafford took United's summer spending up to £130m, a new record for the club and the quick, stylish Argentine should bring back some of the excitement that United have traditionally been recognised for.
While Di Maria's move doesn't solve all problems seen at United his ability to adapt between 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 will be key should things not start off United's way. Van Gaal switched between these two formations at half time as United were losing to Swansea on the opening day of the season.
"Of course, we have to win and give results. Hopefully we will start on Saturday at Burnley."
With confidence already shattered at United despite Di Maria's move from Real Madrid, Sean Dyche's side will be hoping to recreate the historic victory over United at Turf Moor in 2009.
Martin Keown is sure that van Gaal's choice of formation is going to continue giving United underwhelming results: "He's persisting with this three at the back, and I don't believe the players are picking it up well enough. They don't seem to understand it,"
Manchester United need a win to stay safe from the relegation zone after three games - the statement sounds unbelievable, yet it is true.
MATCH STATS
Burnley have won just one Premier League fixture between the two sides, in August 2009.
After that loss, United won the opposite fixture 3-0 at Old Trafford.
This is the 121st encounter between the sides. Manchester United have won 57 times, Burnley 44 and there have been 19 draws.
The Clarets have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 29 Premier League games.
The Clarets are one of two teams (Barnsley is the second) never to have been involved in a goalless draw in the Premier League.
One point from two games is Manchester United's worst start to a league campaign since 1992-93. However, they won the league that season.
United have kept only two clean sheets in their last 10 Premier League games, and they have not kept a clean sheet for five consecutive league matches away from home.
Louis van Gaal's side have the lowest cross completion rate in the top flight so far (5% - excluding corners).
New signing Angel Di Maria has assisted 11 goals in his last 11 league appearances.