Burnley shouldn't be underestimated, for sure, but they still have only won 1 game away all season. They've also score less than a goal per game in general, and concede at a rate of two per game on their travels. Our current score ratio is 2-1, so it has the feel of a 2-1 game altogether, although I think we can make it a 2 goal game in our favour if either our defence is on form, or if Sturridge happens to score a brace (with a midfielder adding the other). It will be interesting to see how Ings performs, given our interest in him, and he'll either work his socks off to impress (and possibly overdo it!), or he'll fail to match the intensity of the game and become isolated. It's likely that Burnley will play a 4-4-1-1 against us, to add numbers in midfield, but it might not be enough, with us having a 4v3 advantage yet again in the middle, which should force them to add a body from elsewhere (creating space where their player leaves - probably wide midfield, so more space for that wingback), or to try and use their advantage out wide (which will mean midfield domination for us):
Dyche is a good coach, so he'll have paid attention to the City game yesterday, and it's possible they'll drop their two central mids off to look after Coutinho and Lallana. If so, then it will be vitally important that we both make the most of set pieces, and that we use Can to run at them from deep and test the keeper with some shots. If they try to play us straight up, though, we should create at least 5 or 6 good chances in the game, and it will be up to the players on the ends of the chances to put them in the net.
