Burnley

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Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has issued a rallying cry to his players before Saturday's Premier League game at fellow strugglers Sheffield United.

The Clarets are looking to do the double over the Blades, after a 5-0 win at Turf Moor in December.

"This could be a game of fear or a game of no fear," Kompany said.

"Our approach is no fear - go for it. We've had good performances and bad performances this season, but our goal is to take on the game the way we feel it should be approached.

"It's a privilege to be in this league and to be able to showcase all the good things about our team at this level. It's brought us closer to results, doing that, and we hope it's something that on the day we can achieve.

"I don't see how a draw is good for either team. If it was a draw on Saturday it will be in other places they'll be happy about the result."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media before Saturday's trip to face Sheffield United in the Premier League (15:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference

• Kompany confirmed he "shouldn't have too much change from the last game" in terms of injuries and midfielder Josh Brownhill is "not out of contract" this summer.

• On his team's recent performances: "For the first 10, 12 games it was too often teams could pull away from us. We had to change a few things and, from that moment onwards, we've been nearly in every game. It looks like we're closer to results recently but it's still the same thing of rewarding our performances. We've been good but we could have had a lot more points."

• On his goalkeeper situation after Arijanet Muric's two high-profile errors in their past two games: "Not a difficult position at all. I've had the type of season where I've had to back my players. It's not an issue of talent but you can't force consistency. It's the nature of the season we're in. We've supported Traffs [James Trafford] when he's made mistakes and we will do the same with Muro [Muric]."

• Kompany conceded his side must win at Bramall Lane: "It's been a must-win for a while for us now, but I guess you get down to the wire. It's a must-win game for both teams, for sure."

• On Saturday's opponents: "They've had a change of manager, of course. There are differences there. At the same time, from our side, we don't have anything to lose. It's going to have that little bit of a cup final feel to it. We should embrace that."

• On keeping faith in the fight for survival: "We've been written off about 15 games ago. We're still there. We're still fighting. You have to force your own luck and have belief, no fear and attack the game."

Follow the rest of Thursday's football news

Here are the key facts before Sheffield United host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 BST).

• Sheffield United have conceded 84 goals in their 32 Premier League games this season. That is the most at this stage of a top-flight campaign since Ipswich Town in 1963-64 (85), and the most the Blades have conceded in a league campaign since 1954-55 (86 in 42 games).

• Burnley have dropped 24 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, with only Brentford (30) losing more. Meanwhile, Sheffield United have let 17 points slip when winning this term, only losing more in 1993-94 (25).

• Despite no team using more players in the Premier League than United this season (33), no side has had fewer different goalscorers than the Blades (10, excluding own goals).

• Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni has been substituted off in 86% of his league appearances this season (25/29), the highest share of any player to play at least 20 games in Premier League history.

• Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie has been involved in eight goals in his past eight Premier League home games, scoring six and assisting twice. The only game in this run in which he has not registered a goal or assist was in the Blades’ 6-0 defeat by Arsenal last month.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea and Everton winger

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Oddly, I used to like to play in goals during training when I was a player. I was OK, but at 5ft 6in (1.67m) tall it was never going to be my alternative position in the professional game. I knew I was not big enough or good enough for that specialist position.

I say this so that keepers do not get riled with me when I say that, 99.9% of them, are not good enough to be top-level outfield professionals. The problem is that they are continually asked to be just that now.

Burnley v Brighton underlined this perfectly. It is a fast growing list of keepers who are being closed down and then losing goals, simply because they are not good enough footballers. Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen joined Burnley's Arijanet Muric against Everton and Sheffield United’s Ivo Grbic against Liverpool, an error I mentioned just last week.

The reason why Verbruggen did not just come out and pick up the ball up in his box, is because he is being asked to think like an outfield player, but the gap between being not bad and being a top pro is an almighty chasm.

Muric then had a howler that an 11-year-old outfield player would be embarrassed by. With this second aberration in two weeks, Burnley’s chances of staying in the Premier League all but crashed and burned.

This is not a stinging rebuke to him or any goalkeeper. They are being asked to do a job most are not equipped for, and so goals will continue to be pointlessly lost and will probably get even more frequent.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

If there was ever a moment this season that evidenced the problem with this Burnley side, it was when Arijanet Muric, under no pressure from any Brighton attack, decided to stop the ball with his studs on wet grass, let the ball roll under his foot and into the back of his own net.

Burnley had just taken the lead through an enforced goalkeeper error, after Josh Brownhill piled some pressure on a Brighton side pretty much done for the year. At that point, we were optimistic that we were finally going to be the beneficiaries of some luck.

But no, we pressed the self-destruct button once more and found an even more ludicrous way to lose a lead - I give up.

Despite conceding two horror goals in two consecutive games, I would still keep Muric in the team. He is prone to some howlers, and you have to balance risk and reward with him, but the team just looks more attacking-focused and confident with him in it.

His distribution (Everton aside) is excellent, his quick pass removes so much pressure from his back four, and quite frankly the problems this side has had this season can be distributed far wider than the goalkeeping team.

With Kompany sidelined through suspension, I thought Craig Bellamy spoke very well after the game. It was an honest reflection but one full of optimism, something I have no problem with.

A leadership team should keep the focus on survival until it is mathematically impossible. That is what I expect of them.

Just... well, maybe someone can tell Craig that rainbows are, in fact, very real?

Natalie Bromley can be found on the No Nay Never podcast, external

We asked for your views on Burnley's 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday.

Here are some of your answers:

Burnley fans

Owen: Thought we played really well up until Muric’s mistake. People are quick to slander him after today but he is a class keeper and has saved us the past few games. To win games we need to score more, which we are incapable of. Our attack is a mess. We got really lucky with the goal today. But I will take a point and on to the next.

Lisa: We played good football but - yet again - one mistake cost us. It’s the headline of our whole season. Muric has cost us the last two games. Trafford needs to be in the starting line-up next match, along with senior players from last season who have earned their stripes and know how to deal with the pressure at this level. Let’s finish with some pride.

Barry: Everything considered, another one that was close but no cigar. I think Muric did more things right than the one error so no blame on him from me. Unfortunately it was just another glaring example of what we have lacked all season which predominantly is a true goalscorer. We still have 15 points to play for so keep the faith and UTC.

Brighton fans

Hugh: Poor performance. Too many players missing through injury but Roberto de Zerbi seems no longer interested in the job, which has affected morale across the squad.

Bob: Another poor result and we are turning into a very mediocre season. It's clear all our players are already on the beach. The policy of trying to walk the ball into the net is just boring now.

David: The same problem we have had for some time now, 20 shots and not one goal scored by a Brighton player. We do not have the players who are capable of walking the ball into the net and the management do not seem to be able to adapt. Will buying new forwards for next year solve the problem? I think not unless they come up with a new team strategy.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Manchester City v Luton Town

Bournemouth v Manchester United

Burnley assistant coach Craig Bellamy spoke to BBC Match of the Day after the Clarets' draw with Brighton: "We played really good in the first half. We played between the lines and moved it round when we needed to. Created good chances but at this level you have to make the most of those moments. First half we were disappointed not to come in with the lead."

On possible penalty: "I don't think it was a penalty personally. I thought it was a good decision by the referee.

On goals: "The goal gave us an opportunity to get the three points which we desperately need at this moment.

"That's [Muric error] our doing as coaches. This is what we expect, this is how we play. We expect the goalkeeper and demand that the goalkeeper can get it out of his feet. On this occasion it didn't go for us but we don't look at it as the goalkeeper's mistake. We take full responsibility for it.

"It's fine. We crack on again. They recover tomorrow and then we work again this week and set ourselves up to get three points on Saturday."

On bouncing back when dropping points: "We've done it all year. We're positive people anyway. Maybe naive, but positive. Enjoying this league still to this present moment even though it's difficult. The appetite to come in Monday, with good performances has helped. We're realistic to know results matter but the belief the players have and the belief we have in them takes care of itself. We're beyond positive and still feel there's an opportunity to be able to do something."

On Vincent Kompany return next week: "We missed him today. We miss his presence. My voice will be thankful he's there next week!"

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, PA

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has often talked this season about his side playing better than their opponents, but those good performances mean nothing if not reflected in results.

Burnley have lost a club-record 11 of their 17 Premier League home matches this season and failed to score in 12 of their 33 league games - the most of any team in the top flight.

After two glorious chances in the first half were missed by Jacob Bruun Larsen and David Datro Fofana, Jay Rodriguez went close in the second period and defensively Burnley were solid.

But, leading games before capitulating through needless errors has been the story of their season - 24 points dropped from leading positions evidence of that.

They will see this as two points lost rather than one gained with tough games against Manchester United and Tottenham on the horizon.

As things stand, a point is likely not enough to give Burnley any real hopes of survival and the crestfallen reaction of their players at full-time suggested they also thought that to be the case.

• Burnley are now unbeaten in three consecutive home Premier League games (W1 D2), after losing 11, drawing two and winning one of the previous 14 this season.

• Since their debut season in 2017-18, Brighton have benefited from 17 own-goals in the Premier League, a figure bettered only by Tottenham (25) and Liverpool (18) in that time.

• Burnley have dropped 24 points from leading positions in the Premier League this season, with only Brentford (30) dropping more.

• All 236 of Brighton captain Lewis Dunk’s Premier League appearances have come as starts, with only four outfield players posting a better 100% starting record (Gareth Southgate 426, Paul Ince 306, Des Walker 264, Gary Pallister 261).

• Burnley’s Josh Brownhill has been directly involved in two goals in his past three Premier League appearances (1 goal, 1 assist), as many as he managed in his 16 before that.

A calamitous mistake by goalkeeper Arijanet Muric prevented Burnley from securing a vital Premier League win over Brighton at Turf Moor.

One week after the Kosovan's mistake handed Everton a 1-0 victory over Vincent Kompany's side, Muric allowed a simple backpass from his team-mate Sander Berge to roll under his heel and into the net.

Josh Brownhill had given Burnley's chances of Premier League survival a glimmer of hope on 74 minutes when he nipped in to take advantage of a short backpass from Carlos Baleba and the ball cannoned in off the side of keeper Bart Verbruggen to give the home side the lead.

But just five minutes later Muric's error levelled proceedings and Burnley could not restore their advantage to take all three points.

The result leaves Brighton 10th in the Premier League while Burnley are still firmly rooted in the relegation zone, six points from safety.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Burnley fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Brighton fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Six matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries:

• Man City v Luton

• Bournemouth v Man Utd

All times BST

Follow BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries and live text updates here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on actor and Leyton Orient fan Daniel Mays.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Looking at the table, Burnley will probably need four wins from their final six games to have any chance of staying up. That's the same number of victories as they have managed from their first 32 matches, so it's going to be a big ask.

They might get something here, though. I can't make my mind up about Brighton's form this season and, based on what he has said, it feels like Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi is off in the summer.

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has been talking about his side's past six games and how they deserved to win more than one of them, on balance of play. Will this be their time to start a late winning run? I am going to say no.

Daniel's prediction: 0-0

See the full list of predictions here

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Burnley boss Vincent Kompany says he "wouldn't call it a miracle" if the Clarets escape relegation.

Kompany's side are second-bottom of the Premier League, six points adrift of safety with six games left to play, while both Nottingham Forest and Everton - who are both outside the relegation zone - are appealing points deductions.

The Belgian said: "I wouldn't call it a miracle [if Burnley avoid relegation], but it needs wins, it needs points. We're not necessarily able to look forward to any game and pick and choose, say 'this game is the one'. Every game is tough for us.

"But every game offers the opportunity. We don't also look at any game as a game where we can't win.

"What we need is that difference from what we've had this season - if you have a good performance, you have to have three points."

After hosting Brighton on Saturday, Burnley go to Sheffield United, followed by games against Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham and then Forest at Turf Moor on the final day of the season.

Kompany, whose side have only four league victories to their name this term, added: "I look back at the past six games and we could have had in each game a serious claim to have three points, let alone a draw, and you don't reward yourself. That's frustrating.

"It's been fine margins so many times. It's been this type of season where at the beginning I think we found it, talking very early doors, difficult to adapt quickly, but for a while now we've been in every game.

"It's just the frustration, what it's been this season, is after a game to feel like we could have done more.

"What I want to add is that - and that was my frustration probably with my over-reaction at times with the officials as well - there have been times where it's been our own fault, our own mistakes, and sometimes it's not been our fault, and that's unfortunate."

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Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has described Brighton as "unique opposition" before their Premier League meeting at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The Seagulls shared the points with Kompany's side at Amex Stadium in December.

"Without necessarily being classed as one of the big six teams in this league, they've managed to establish themselves with all the habits of the top teams," Kompany said in his pre-match news conference.

"They force the opposition teams to adapt. For a team like Brighton to demand that even from the bigger teams is pretty exceptional. It doesn't matter if it's the top six against them [or other teams], they have to adapt their game to play against Brighton."

On what he expects the Seagulls' style of play to be like on Saturday, Kompany added: "Usually you can line up in a zonal press, but they will find the positions in between the lines. They will then create overloads and find the free man between the lines.

"If you line up with a man-orientated press, they have movement patterns to create space to go in behind. They have really good control of the tempo of the ball and the angles they need to make to be able retain possession. They have a goalkeeper who is essentially an outfield player and when they lose the ball they recover it as quickly as possible.

"It's not happened overnight, it's taken them years to do that. They are where they are because they've probably had this idea for a long time already."

Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media to look ahead to Burnley's Premier League game against Brighton on Saturday.

Here are the main headlines from his news conference:

• On his touchline suspension, Kompany said: "Fair enough, I acknowledge that what I said in the moment doesn't reflect what I think of the official. It was too harsh and it's not what I meant. In the moment the emotions got the better of me."

• On how his ban affects Saturday's match: "It's unpleasant but I have full trust in the staff and players. On match day, the most important people are the players and we need to reflect that on the day."

• On opponents Brighton: "They are unique opposition. Without being classed as one of the big six in the league, they've managed to establish themselves with all the habits of the top teams. They force the opposition to adapt and that's exceptional. It's a pretty special situation to be in."

• On Burnley's strategy of recruiting younger players, similarly to Brighton: "The strategy isn't to play younger players. The strategy is a decision made by the club. The balance between performance and being in the development phase - it's a difficult puzzle to solve."

• When asked about Lyle Foster's different role in recent weeks: "I didn't think about the fact he was playing wider. Our players have always been flexible. It's a perception from the outside. If you look at his position in possession, it's the exact same as he's always played. It's a perception thing. Our players have always had to be flexible."

• Dara O'Shea is suspended for the match, but Kompany does not expect any other players to be missing.

• On goalkeeper James Trafford's absence from the past two games: "He's been ill. He's come back now and he looks in good spirits."

Follow Thursday's Premier League news conferences

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Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has been given a two-match touchline suspension and a £10,000 fine from the FA following misconduct in a match against Chelsea last month.

Kompany will not be on the touchline for the Clarets' Premier League match against Brighton on Saturday, with the second game of his ban suspended until 31 December.

A statement from the Football Association said Kompany "admitted his language and/or behaviour in the 40th minute of the fixture was improper and/or abusive and/or insulting towards a match official and/or questioned the integrity of a match official."

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Burnley and Brighton in the Premier League.

• Burnley have won just one of their last seven Premier League meetings with Brighton (D4 L2), a 3-0 win at the Amex Stadium in February 2022.

• Brighton failed to score in just two of their 41 Premier League games in 2023, netting in a club record 32 consecutive league games last year. In 2024, the Seagulls have failed to score in more different Premier League games than any other side, as they have not scored in six of their 12 games so far.

• Only Manchester City (12) have scored more goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season than Burnley (9), with a league-high 28% of the Clarets’ goals this term coming from distance (9/32).

• Brighton have made 119 changes to their starting XI in the Premier League this season, 33 more than any other side. Their current rate of 3.84 changes per game is the highest in a single campaign in Premier League history.

• Burnley concede an average of 2.2 goals per game in the Premier League with James Trafford in goal this season (62 in 28 games), compared to 1.3 with Arijanet Muric between the sticks (5 in 4).

• Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke has made more ball carries (726) and carried the ball a further distance (7135.5 metres) than any other player in the Premier League this season.

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

It is my fault. I should never have written those comments last week that the great escape was on. It most definitely is not on.

I could copy and paste so many of my observations from this season and they will all equally apply to Saturday's game at Everton. But the one I want to focus on right now is the Dara O'Shea sending off.

That was Burnley's seventh red card of the season, something I am reliably informed is the most by a side in a Premier League season since Aston Villa and Newcastle in 2014-15 (both seven red cards).

There was a time not so long ago when we had seven red cards in 237 Premier League appearances, and none in over 100 games.

I understand this Burnley side is inexperienced and young, but that is a shocking record.

I do not think we are a nasty team, just very naive - and a lot slower than most of the other Premier League sides, often making poor judgements when it comes to tackles quite common.

We used to have so much more about us than we do right now.

With the news of a further points deduction for Everton, we have thrown away such a good chance this season to stay in this league. We could - and should - have been far more competitive than we have been.

Thoughts will inevitably turn to what next season looks like.

Sander Berge is the only clear favourite for a move away from Turf Moor, but we could make some money back on Lyle Foster and Zeki Amdouni.

Given just how hotly contested the Championship has been this season, we have to learn from this campaign's mistakes and get it right again next time.

Natalie Bromley can be found at No Nay Never podcast, external