Burnley

• 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 Images

Neil 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.

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Burnley are hosting Luton Town at Turf Moor in the Premier League, with kick-off at Turf Moor less than an hour away.

Get all the build-up followed by live text updates here

Image source, Reuters

Luton 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.

Read the full predictions

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."

Shamoon Hafez, BBC Sport

Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media before Friday's crucial Premier League game against Luton.

Here are the key lines from the Burnley manager:

• He is anticipating activity during this transfer window: "There is a big chance we do something and strengthen in a couple of positions. I just want players that are good enough for the Premier League. You have to have players who can play at this level."

• On facing fellow relegation rivals Luton: "We have passed the point where we can deny the fact that we have to look at every opportunity to get results. The importance of this game is about turning performances into results."

• He is confident that his players will relish the importance of the fixture: "I would hope we like pressure and be in a pressurised situation. What type of club are you if you don’t like pressure? Last season we played in the Championship with pressure and now it is about staying in this league."

• On the mentality of the squad: "We have the right characters. If they are looking for a pay day and not for progression then [we] are in trouble. I feel I have characters who have a growth mindset. These type of signs do turn into results."

• Kompany says the players will have a week off after the Luton game was brought forward from Monday to Friday and so they will have more than 10 days of preparation before facing Manchester City in their next game on 31 January.