Burnley are trying to strike a deal to sign 21-year-old Montpellier defender Maxime Esteve. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Burnley and Republic of Ireland forward Michael Obafemi is expected to join Millwall on loan for the rest of the season. (Sky Sports), external
Natalie Bromley, No Nay Never podcast, external
Question: if Tony Harrington disallows Luton’s equaliser in real time, does VAR overrule him and still give the goal? We indeed hope so to maintain confidence in VAR - but the problem is that no-one has that confidence any more.
How many times have we seen goalkeepers protected in that position? It is a running joke that you cannot breathe on the goalkeeper without it being a foul.
Are we now saying that goalkeepers in fact are too over-protected? I think I would agree with that and would like to see that change. But the problem is this; in order to protect the integrity of the competition you cannot just change your mind halfway through a season. By current standards, that was a clear foul on James Trafford.
In the face of mounting criticism over VAR, the Premier League has reverted to the default “clear and obvious error” justification for any decision - a joke in itself given how long that very principle was simply ignored.
So what I am interested in is who exactly is calling the shots here.
The video assistant referee chose not to overturn the referee’s decision on Friday night, as they believed - wrongly in my opinion - that there was no clear and obvious error.
But, what if Harrington didn’t actually make an on-field decision? How many times have we seen referees and their assistants take a pass, safe in the knowledge that VAR will pick it up and make the decision for them.
If the referee leaves it to VAR, but VAR sticks with the referee, then is anyone actually making a decision?
The whole thing is a mess and fans are rapidly falling out of love with Premier League football.
We asked you for your thoughts on Friday's match between Burnley and Luton Town.
Here are some of your comments:
Burnley fans
Richard: A brilliant performance by Burnley in a tough fixture against a very good Luton team. What an appalling decision for the Luton goal. Should we now be looking for a secondary VAR review to review VAR's many mistakes? Laughable.
Dave: Yes it was a poor decision by the ref/VAR, but it was also a poor decision by James Trafford to come for that ball with so much in front of him. Too many players seem to have accepted that we are already down. Either that or they don’t care. A poor performance overall, but credit to Luton, they played well, with Barkley bossing the midfield.
Paul: The draw felt like a defeat. We were poor tonight. That equaliser would have been disallowed in any other game. It feels like there are two sets of rules -one set for us and another for every other team. That said, we probably didn't deserve the win.
Colin: I'm not convinced that James Trafford has the height or physique to command the penalty area at set pieces.
Luton fans
Kevin: The Town dominated the game for long periods and overall were the better team. Fully deserved a draw and possibly more. Vincent Kompany was probably more upset with his own team than the VAR referral. Burnley were very limited despite massive spending on players.
Phillipe: For the away side, they had far more possession and were more of a threat. A draw in the end was a fair result but Luton were marginally the better team. Barkley a class above the rest.
Dave: Putting up a real fight, true underdog fighting spirit! Keep this up and we will survive.
Nigel: Luton's approach play and pressing was excellent. Their wide players were always available as an excellent outlet for the ball. I also feel that sometimes they could improve in the final third. The final ball occasionally is not as good as they would like. Barkley though is really coming alive, which is a massive plus.
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's two Premier League fixtures, as well as Friday night's match between Burnley and Luton
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 match commentary in full on BBC Sounds:
Image source, Getty ImagesBurnley boss Vincent Kompany, speaking to BBC Sport about Luton's late equaliser in the 1-1 draw on Friday night: "[My view is the same as] everyone's view. My view is the same as anyone who has played the game. Fair play to the striker, he tries his luck, he blocks the goalkeeper. He has a look, blocks him, looks across to the referee and you think surely not. VAR will sort this out. Luton players are not celebrating.
"It's quiet. Everyone is ready to move on with the game and then he gives it.
"Look if the consistency is everyone can do it, it's fine. If we're not giving fouls for us, that's fine. Crack on and I have another message to give my players.
"But we've had the softest penalty given against us against Aston Villa after two soft yellow cards that cost us a red card. I always tell my players careful with that, we can't blame the refs. But I haven't got a story. I don't know what to say to my players. it's ridiculous.
"Against Forest we had a goal disallowed we got an apology for. It keeps happening. It's incredible. It'll balance off I hope.
"This can't decide a game. Something done by a bit of magic but not this. Not this.
"We'll get up and we'll keep going. It's not even in my nature to complain about this. I don't like this side of me. I told the lads I don't know what to tell you. It's bizarre."
Burnley have now dropped 18 points from winning positions in the Premier League, with only Brentford dropping more (20). They’ve only won two of their last seven games when taking the lead (D2 L3).
Luton have scored 10 goals in the final 10 minutes of Premier League games this season – only Liverpool have scored more (13).
Luton’s Alfie Doughty registered his fifth Premier League assist via a cross this season – only West Ham United’s James Ward-Prowse has as many assists from crosses (also five).
Carlton Morris ended a run of 13 Premier League appearances for Luton without a goal, netting his fourth goal of the season and first since September against Everton.
No player has more Premier League goals for Burnley this season than Zeki Amdouni (4 - level with Lyle Foster). The only Swiss players with more goals in a Premier League season are Xherdan Shaqiri (8 in 2017-18, 6 in 2018-19) and Granit Xhaka (7 in 2022-23).
Burnley’s Johann Gudmundsson became the fourth Icelandic player to reach 150 Premier League appearances, after Hermann Hreidarsson (332), Gylfi Sigurdsson (318) and Eidur Gudjohnsen (211).
Image source, Getty ImagesNeil Johnston, BBC Sport
When the dust eventually settles on yet another VAR controversy, Burnley will have to face up to an alarming statistic.
They have now dropped an incredible 18 points from winning positions in the Premier League.
In truth, they should have scored more than one goal against Luton.
Had they done that then Carlton Morris' highly contentious 92nd-minute equaliser would not have been so costly.
Instead, the Clarets remain in deep trouble having played one more game than their rivals at the bottom of the table.
Goals have been hard to come by and Zeki Amdouni's opener was just their 21st in the Premier League this season.
Boss Vincent Kompany will hope to have added some much-needed firepower by the time the Clarets are back in action at Manchester City on 31 January.
Chelsea forward David Datro Fofana is reported to be close to joining on loan after spending the first half of the season in Germany with Union Berlin.
Reinforcements are needed as the fight to stay in the Premier League intensifies.
Luton scored a controversial 92nd-minute equaliser to deny Burnley a crucial win in a game of huge significance at the bottom of the Premier League.
Burnley looked set to claim a rare victory after a dogged defensive performance following Switzerland forward Zeki Amdouni's 36th-minute deflected finish at a raucous Turf Moor.
But Carlton Morris headed the Hatters level in the closing moments.
There was a lengthy check by the video assistant referee (VAR) after Elijah Adebayo appeared to nudge keeper James Trafford as Morris scored.
But the goal was allowed to stand much to the anger of the home fans.
The result leaves Burnley, who have played one more game than the teams around them, in deep trouble, four points from safety.
Luton remain in the relegation zone but are now level on 16 points with 17th-placed Everton.
Were you at Turf Moor or did you follow the match from elsewhere?
Burnley fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here
Burnley are hosting Luton Town at Turf Moor in the Premier League, with kick-off at Turf Moor less than an hour away.
Image source, ReutersLuton manager Rob Edwards says Burnley "can - and have - hurt bigger and better teams" than the Hatters this season and are a difficult opponent for his side, despite Vincent Kompany's team being lower in the table.
The two clubs were promoted from the Championship together at the end of last season - Burnley as champions and Luton via the play-offs.
The Clarets won 2-1 at Kenilworth Road in October but go into Friday's match four points behind their visitors, who will climb out of the relegation zone if they win at Turf Moor.
"We see every game as an opportunity to get three points and this is the next one," said Edwards. "If we do, then great, we can jump up a little bit for a few hours at least, but there's a long way to go this season.
"It's a good challenge for us. This is a really difficult game and we've got to look to perform well in it because otherwise we've got no chance. Burnley have been close in a lot of games.
"We concentrate on the performance and hopefully the result will look after itself. I think they [the players] are ready to show people that we can compete against anyone."
BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.
For part one of week 21 - due to the Premier League's winter break - he takes on singer-songwriter and Tottenham fan Declan McKenna.
The first game for the duo to predict is Burnley v Luton, who lock horns on Friday evening (19:45 GMT).
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
This is a difficult one to kick off with.
Burnley beat Luton at Kenilworth Road earlier in the season but they have a terrible home record with just three points picked up from a possible 30 so far.
It's a huge game for Vincent Kompany's side because they are four points behind the Hatters, who are also in the bottom three.
Win it, and they not only beat the team immediately above them, it could also be seen as the launchpad for the improvement they will surely need at Turf Moor if they are going to stay up.
It's not a must-win game in terms of the points that are up for grabs, but feels like it because of the belief that a victory would give them.
I just do not see it happening for them on Friday, though. For starters, the Clarets do not score enough goals - they have managed only 20 in their first 20 games - and Luton appear to be far more streetwise.
By that, I mean Luton seem to know how to get a result even when their performance probably doesn't merit one.
Declan's prediction: 2-2
I'm thinking this will be a heated contest.
I'm inclined to fancy Luton but Turf Moor will make it tough for them.
Burnley are looking into a deal for Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker David Datro Fofana, 21, who has been recalled from his loan at Union Berlin. (Athletic, subscription required, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
Burnley have shown signs of life at times but I feel there has also been a reluctance to adapt to changing circumstances - and leagues - by manager Vincent Kompany.
Sticking by principles is fine but the purist football that got Burnley out of the Championship has also looked lightweight and fraught with danger against top-flight opponents. I thought Burnley might have enough to stay up. I'm not quite as convinced any more.
Current position: 19th.
McNulty's pre-season prediction: 17th.
What McNulty said in August: "There has been lots of talk that the three sides coming up will go straight back down but if one club can defy those predictions, then I am going for Burnley."
