Wednesday 15th July will see Burnley host Wolverhampton Wanderers in a crucial game for both sides European push.

With the news being released on Monday that Manchester City will play Champions League football next season, Burnley will have to finish seventh if they want another chance at the Europa League. Wolves on the other hand sit sixth and a win would push them further away from the chasing pack.

Team News 

Sean Dyche will, like most games since the restart, be without key players due to injury. Ashley Barnes, Ben Mee, Jack Cork and Matthew Lowton are all likely to be out for this game. However, that hasn't affected Burnley as recent results show.

Kevin Long has been back and playing, Josh Brownhill has shone in the midfield and Erik Pieters has shown his creative side playing in the wide midfield spots. Those three are all expected to feature again along with Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Chris Wood who have both recently returned from injury.

Wolves have little to worry about when it comes to squad selection. Their only doubtful appearance is Pedro Neto but apart from that they are full fledged to invade Turf Moor.

Nuno Espirito Santos has become synonymous with his small squad size, which he uses to get the best out of the players he thinks are good enough to don the Wolves kit. 

Recent Form

The Claret's have been in fine from both before and after that 5-0 loss to Man City. Since the turn of the new year Burnley have won seven, five draws and lost just four. Wins have come against Manchester United and Leicester whilst they have drawn with both Arsenal and League Champions Liverpool.

Since the return due to COVID-19 Burnley have beaten West Ham, Crystal Palace and Watford with two draws and one loss in the remaining three. 

Burnley Since the return: ( D,W,D,W,W,L)

Wolves Since the Return: (W,L,L,W,W,W)

As shown Wolves are also in strong form since the return to COVID-19, their four wins came against Everton, Aston Villa, AFC Bournemouth and West Ham. However, their two losses have come against sides in similar league positions to Burnley, with Arsenal and Sheffield United both getting the better of Wolves.

Since the turn of the new year, they have lost five, drawn five and won seven. Their only notable win was against Tottenham Hotspur, whilst they have drawn with Man United and Leicester and lost to Liverpool.

Previous Meetings

The last time these two faced off was in August of 2019 when the points were shared with a 1-1 draw. From 2012 onwards the clubs have met seven times with three Burnley wins, Three draws and one Wolves victory. However, since they both earned a spot back into the  Premier League it has been much more even with a win each and one draw. 

Predicted Lineups 

Burnley: Pope, Bardsley, Long, Tarkowski, Taylor, Pieters, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil, Rodriguez, Wood

Wolves: Patricio, Bolyy, Coady, Saiss, Doherty, Dendonbker, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny, Jimenez, Jota

Referee: Mike Dean

Ones To Watch

Jay Rodriguez 

One of their own, Rodriguez is Burnley through and through and has given the fans watching at home something to cheer about. He salvaged a draw against Liverpool with his superb low drilled strike from outside the box, he got the only goal of the game in their win over West Ham and nodded home a brilliant header against Crystal Palace. The English centre-forward has scored eight in 33 games this season but has had his most fruitful spell post lockdown, scoring four in six.

Raul Jimenez 

The Mexican is Wolves' main talisman netting 16 times in 35 appearances with 13 assists to add to that. Post Lockdown Jimenez has scored three in six. Overall this season he has 41 shots on target with a shot accuracy of 37%. Jimenez has become a fan favourite at Molinuex  and a figure ahead to Espirito Santos' attack and could definitely be on fire again against Burnley. 

Where To Watch

Kick off is 6pm and the game is televised on BBC One or on BBC iPlayer. Viewers in the United States can watch this on the streaming platform FuboTV.