Ahead of today’s 3pm kick-off at Turf Moor, it’s time to predict which side Eddie Howe will select to take on Burnley.
I’m torn between two XIs. One that sees a fit-again Callum Wilson start alongside Alexander Isak in a new-look 11 or a small tweak to our usual 4-3-3, where Harvey Barnes replaces Jacob Murphy.
Personally, I think we’ll see one of the following two line-ups today:
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Livramento, Krath, Burn, Hall – Longstaff, Bruno, Anderson – Gordon – Isak – Barnes.
(4-4-1-1): Dubravka – Livramento, Krath, Burn, Hall – Gordon, Longstaff, Bruno, Anderson – Isak – Wilson.
The first side feels more likely based on minimal changes to formation and Barnes replacing Murphy – who I thought was poor last weekend – but Wilson will be so motivated to make a late push for the Euros and has played up top with Isak before.
Burnley also play with two up top and don’t pack out the midfield, so it could be a good time to try something different, especially when you consider how poor our away form has often been. Anderson on the left could also allow him to come in field and help out Bruno and Longstaff, while Barnes would then offer real impact from the bench; something he’s done to great effect when fit this season.
