For the sixth successive year, Burnley will be competing in the Premier League and Sean Dyche is hopeful that he will have the resources to steer the club clear of the relegation zone once again.
Aside from an impressive seventh-place finish in 2017-18, the Clarets have spent the majority of their time battling to keep their top-flight status intact and last year was no different.
Burnley endured a disappointing end to the previous campaign – losing seven of their final 10 league games – which resulted in a 17th-place finish, and so Dyche will be keen for his side to hit the ground running this time around.
The Clarets will need to address their home form if they are to have a strong campaign this year. Dyche’s men are currently winless in their last 10 league games at Turf Moor – drawing and losing five each –
with a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa in January their last success on home soil. Only once in their league history have they had a longer run without a win at Turf Moor, going 11 games between April and November 1979 when they were in the second tier.
Burnley also have a poor record against Saturday’s opponents Brighton, having won just one of their last seven home league games against them, a narrow 1-0 Premier League win in December 2018.
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After a 17-month absence, the Clarets will welcome the return of home fans this weekend and hope that their support can drive the team on to end their miserable run of form.
Burnley head into their opening fixture after winning five of their six pre-season friendlies, albeit against lesser opposition, with their only defeat against Spanish side Cadiz in their final game last weekend.
With the return of a few key players, Dyche is set to name a strong side on Saturday that he will hope can secure all three points against a potential relegation rival.
