Man United have not been in competitive action since November 13, when they recorded a 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Premier League, with Alejandro Garnacho scoring the winner in the 93rd minute.
The result left the Red Devils in fifth spot in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with a game in hand on the North London club; Erik ten Hag’s side will be back in league action against Nottingham Forest on December 27, but their immediate focus is on the EFL Cup.
Man United recorded a 4-2 victory over Aston Villa in the last round of the competition, and they are bidding to win the EFL Cup for the fifth time in their history this season.
The 20-time English champions last lifted the trophy in 2017 by beating Southampton, and there is no question that Ten Hag will be taking this competition seriously, as he bids to deliver silverware in his first season.
The Red Devils recorded a 3-1 victory over Burnley when the two teams locked horns in the Premier League at Old Trafford last season, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor back in February.
Burnley resumed their campaign on December 11 against Queens Park Rangers, recording a 3-0 victory over the capital outfit, before running out 3-1 winners over Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Vincent Kompany’s side are top of the Championship, boasting 47 points from their opening 23 matches, which has left them six points clear of second-placed Sheffield United.
Burnley have had to win two matches to reach this stage of the EFL Cup, recording a 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town on August 23 before beating Crawley Town 3-1 last time out.
The League Cup is not a priority competition for the Clarets this season, with the team’s main focus being the Championship, as they bid to secure a return to the Premier League for the 2023-24 campaign.
Links >> Stream 1 HD Stream 2 HD Stream 3 HD Stream 4 HD
Burnley have actually never won the League Cup, but they lifted the FA Cup in 1913-14, and a victory over Man United on Wednesday would certainly leave them full of confidence heading into the final eight.
Man United will again be without the services of Axel Tuanzebe through injury, while Diogo Dalot is a doubt with the hamstring problem that he picked up while representing Portugal at the World Cup.
Jadon Sancho is also a major doubt, having recently been on an individual fitness programme, with the Englishman not travelling to Spain for the team’s winter training camp, which included matches against Cadiz and Real Betis.
