Burnley

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

League leaders Arsenal continue their title challenge against a Burnley side who have won back-to-back matches in the Premier League for the first time in two-and-a-half years.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of Saturday's clash at Turf Moor.

Set-piece superiority

Free-kicks, long throws and corners are in vogue to such an extent that Arsenal currently top the table by four points despite having scored only five of their 16 Premier League goals from open play.

A record 19% of all Premier League goals this season have been scored from corners (45 of 241), the highest share in the competition's history.

Arsenal have been at the forefront of the shift in emphasis under manager Mikel Arteta, scoring an unrivalled nine set-piece goals (excluding penalties) this season.

The Gunners, who recruited set-piece coach Nicolas Jover four years ago, are particularly threatening from corners, scoring 37 goals from such situations since the start of 2023-24 - at least 11 more than any other side in Europe's big five leagues.

Arteta says improvements in coaching, tactical set-ups and the conditioning of players mean open-play goals are harder to come by.

Following last Sunday's 1-0 win against Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium in which Eberechi Eze scored from a set-piece, Arteta said: "We are noticing a shift. The moment the physicality increases, methods that are implemented are more efficient and the game is more difficult to play because you can constrain spaces, because physically you are better.

"You have to find ways to score in different ways and that's what I think everybody's trying to do."

Burnley's back-to-back wins

Burnley's success so far this season, which has seen the Clarets record 10 points from their opening nine matches, has been dependent on other means.

Scott Parker's side have scored just once from a corner this season but instead they have been highly effective at taking their big chances (as defined by Opta) - particularly from open play.

The Clarets big chance conversion is the highest of any side (80%), helping them to win back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time in two-and-a-half years following their victory at Molineux last weekend – their first away triumph in the top flight since April 2024.

While Parker said he was "ecstatic" at defeating Wolves via Lyle Foster's 95th-minute winner, Burnley's survival may well depend on continuing to take a high proportion of the chances they are able to create.

According to Opta's expected points model, Burnley would be bottom of the table.

However, emulating such execution against the likes of Arsenal may prove to be a tall order.

Burnley have never won a Premier League match against a side starting the day top of the table in 12 attempts (D5, L7), last doing so in the top flight 50 years ago courtesy of a 1-0 win against QPR.

Image source, BURNLEY FC

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a football club?

BBC Bitesize sat down with members of staff from Burnley to find out more about their jobs and how they all contribute to the running of a football club.

Jack Tebbutt is currently the first-team player care lead at Burnley. His role is far removed from tactics boards and team talks. He's there to provide support to the players, and other staff, on the very varied issues that life can throw at them.

His role can vary from helping players with admin at home to sorting out flat tyres on the side of the road, guiding them in times of grief and assisting with matters around mental health.

"For a lot of our lads, just having someone in the building and knowing they've got a safety blanket is a big thing for them," he explains.

For him to have the most impact in his position, Jack says that the players' trust has to be earned, especially when new signings arrive. That's why he is always one of the first to greet any new players. However, gaining that trust can be tricky. Being curious about people and why they might not be trusting is an important part of the role for Jack.

"We, as people, judge people's behaviour all the time. In fact, we should become more curious about their behaviours," he believes.

"The manager knows that I'm giving the players support to make them thrive on the pitch, which only gives him an easier job."

Jack's phone is on 24/7 and he makes himself available to players whatever the situation. He's always there on matchday too. He explains that in the build-up to kick-off some players just want "a normal conversation that detracts from the game and the tactical stuff". Then, after 90 minutes he's there to offer honesty and support, but uses emotional intelligence to know what to say and when.

It's this emotional intelligence that Jack says is one of the key skills if you want to work in player care. This could be noticing when a player looks out of sorts on the training ground and explaining to the manager they are not just being lazy, but they have something going on at home. Or, it could involve interpreting a conversation a player has had with another member of staff.

"Players are not invincible… they might make a lot of money, but they still have problems that money doesn't take away," he says.

Read more about Jack and other members of staff at Burnley here

Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire to reflect on his strong start to the season, his growing partnership with centre-back partner Maxime Esteve and what it has been like working under manager Scott Parker.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Clarets in the summer, spoke candidly about the positive atmosphere in the squad, the honesty of the management team and his determination to keep developing as a player.

He also outlined the collective goal of securing Premier League survival and the value of learning from a manager with top-level experience like Parker.

This - it seems - is the season of the set piece.

The Premier League debates are more about dead balls than ever before, with some sides enjoying immense success from corner kicks, throw ins or well-worked free-kicks.

What fine timing then for BBC Sport to launch a column with former manager Tony Pulis, a man who seemed to finely extract the fine margins from the game.

You can take in Tony's column on set pieces here

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Turf Moor (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He said "it's been a good few weeks" for his side, with the mood around the club carrying a "real buzz and confidence" as they prepare to host the league leaders.

• On the promoted sides: "The three teams that have come up have been very competitive. This is still early part of the season, and there is still a long way to go. The consistency of us and the consistency of many teams will be the defining factor. Some really good early signs certainly from us, which is very encouraging."

• Parker added that it has been "very pleasing" to pick up points against Leeds United and Wolves, highlighting the "psychological element" in "certain fixtures" where his team "had to go and get a result".

• On having a hostile atmosphere at Turf Moor: "That's the aim. That's what we needed it to be. We have an incredible home record over the course of the past 14 months. We've been hugely competitive, fans have been every part of that, and we need to make this place very difficult for teams to come."

• The Burnley boss also stated that performances away from home are just as important and has recalled moments in almost every game where he feels his side are "hugely competitive".

• On Axel Tuanzebe: "He's done really well. We were disappointed with Axe coming in with a bit of an injury. We are starting to see the best version of Axe over the weekend. I thought he was very good. We are pleased to have him back fit now, and he'll play a large part for us this year in that back unit."

• On Arsenal's style of play: "When I'm watching them, I see a fluid team really. I see an unbelievably well-coached team, a team that solves situations. This is definitely not a team that relies on set-plays. Now obviously, over the start of the season, there's been key moments where they've got wins from set-plays. This is a functional team and they're very fluid in the way they play. And defensively, it is really a foundation and probably something we lived by last year. It gives you a bedrock, and they've certainly formed that. This is a top team."

• Looking ahead to hosting the north London side, Parker said Burnley "will work on" limiting Arsenal's threat from set-pieces, adding that they are "doing everything we can to stop this and how we can be effective to nullify".

All the key lines from all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Burnley v Arsenal on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 at 15:00 on Saturday

And also get commentary with Scott Read and David Unsworth on BBC Radio Lancashire (95.5 FM)

Image source, Getty Images

The team on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club have been debating whether the sides promoted to the Premier League can survive, given their starts to the campaign.

The Observer's Rory Smith: "It won't be the case that the three newly promoted sides will go down with a whimper. They have learnt the lesson of Forest and Villa. The way the Premier League works now is you come up, you spend all that money, and you hope you can survive. As things stand, I would say it's unlikely all three go down and it might not be any of them.

"The average team in the Premier League is better than it has ever been - just as it was last season.

"You go through the league - Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford - they can all beat absolutely everyone. You are seeing this levelling out in the Premier League and it is to Arsenal's enormous credit that they seem to be hovering above it."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton: "Sunderland have been top drawer in the way they play. They carry a threat when they go forward. Looking back at the game against Chelsea, they had opportunities, they defended well and they threw bodies forward.

"I know it is early days, but you don't feel the wheels are going to come off. Their recruitment has been sensational and the way Regis Le Bris has got the team performing and functioning, and as competitive as they are, it is a testament to him. They have arguably got their star player [Habib] Diarra out injured.

"We always say with the promoted clubs that the start is really important and then they can get a foothold and gain confidence and feel they can be a match for anybody."

Former Premier League winger Andros Townsend: "Even if the wheels come off, they're [Sunderland] still doing a much better job than the last couple of promoted sides have done.

"In terms of Sunderland and Leeds, they have hostile atmospheres, amazing pitches. It gives them a massive boost. Nobody wants to go and play Leeds. Leeds away, no matter what division, is not a great place to go and win a football match. It's definitely helping them."

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It was billed a Super Sunday, with pubs and sofas all across the country hooked on multiple screens to follow all of the action across four Premier League grounds. And while Wolves v Burnley was largely judged as being the one nobody was watching, it was Molineux that ultimately provided the goals and the drama. Go figure.

Still think Burnley don't score goals? That they are boring?

Those of us who were watching would be forgiven for thinking we had tuned in to prime Brazil. Burnley turned on the charm in the first half with two spectacular goals, both involving Quilindschy Hartman and Zian Flemming, Burnley's very own flying Dutchmen. They got in behind the Wolves defence and bypassed their entire midfield. Ironic really, given that this is a Burnley side who allowed that to happen to them just a few weeks ago at Villa Park.

But it wasn't just about the goals. The game tried its best to deliver one final twist, and if it wasn't for an unreal save from Martin Dubravka it would have ended 3-3. The ball had actually beaten him, but he somehow managed to contort his arm behind him and stop what would have been a heartbreaking equaliser at the death. He likely won't make a more important save this season, and that save is as important as any goal.

Scott Parker has quietly bought himself a squad with a lot more quality than it is being given credit for. And flying under the radar is exactly what this little club in East Lancashire does best.

But it was the game management that impressed me the most. Parker and his side understood how important an away point is at your relegation rivals, and that that importance is not in any way diluted because you went two goals up earlier in the game. They frustrated Wolves and didn't really look likely to surrender the point.

It is generally accepted that 10 wins over the course of the season will secure you Premier League survival - maybe nine in recent years - and Burnley are now one third of the way there.

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Wolves and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Richard: Wolves have identity, which the manager says we need. I'm not sure why people say we don't. We play, pick the ball out of the net and lose. That's an identity. I feel really bad for Vitor. He saved us last year, but things keep going wrong. Something has to change…but not sure changing the manager is always the best option.

Tony: Terrible match. Neither side were impressive, but Burnley deserved their win. O'Neil got the sack for less. Very unimpressive.

Anon: Lacking creativity and any real goal scorer. The Championship is the only destination now for Wolves.

Burnley fans

Neil: Excellent performance despite a highly dubious penalty; we stayed strong and deserved to win.

David: Apart from the win, the important thing is that they are consistently scoring goals, which has been missing in the past.

John: The game should have been over by half time. The finish from Flemming was incredible for Burnley's first. Wolves took advantage of that and looked much stronger in the second half. The Dubravka save right at the death was amazing.

Pundits Danny Murphy and Theo Walcott join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City

• Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

• Wolves 2-3 Burnley

• Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest

• Everton 0-3 Tottenham

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The explosion of relief and celebration from the Burnley bench said it all.

Substitutes and staff burst down the touchline after Lyle Foster's late winner secured a first away win of the season.

They had ridden their luck in the second half after losing their comfortable lead as Wolves rallied and threatened to complete their comeback.

But the Clarets held firm and look much better equipped to make a fight of staying up this season.

Back-to-back wins - the first time they have done that in the Premier League for over three years - also lifts them eight points clear of Wolves.

Aside from a 5-1 thrashing at Manchester City and the opening day defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, Scott Parker's side have not been outclassed.

Late defeats by Manchester United and Liverpool were agonising, and they put up a fight at Aston Villa at the start of October.

But by beating Sunderland, Leeds and Wolves this season, the Clarets are doing exactly what is necessary, winning against their more direct rivals, which will be the key to survival.

Burnley boss Scott Parker spoke to BBC's Match of the Day after victory against Wolves: "It was dramatic at the end, and I am ecstatic with the result.

"The game started incredibly for us with some huge quality in how we play. The Premier League can do that to you sometimes, and we were disappointed to come in 2-2 at half-time. At the end, a bit of quality gets us the winner. An incredible finish from Lyle and the assist from Hannibal - the weight of the pass and detail.

"Back-to-back wins is pretty massive for us and our first away win. It's something we need to build on and will bring confidence to such a young team. A massive win for us.

"We have been hugely competitive this year. We scored in the dying seconds today; in other games, we have conceded in the dying seconds. We probably earned the right to get that today.

"I am immensely proud of this group. They have got something about them."

On Zian Flemming's goals: "Both goals were brilliant goals for us. I am pleased for him, he was crucial for us last year, and he has not been in the team. He made his start last week and two goals today. I am delighted for him."

Did you know?

• With today's victory, Burnley have now won successive Premier League games for the first time since April 2022 – a three-match run which also included victory over Wolves.

• Kyle Walker made his 397th Premier League start in this match, the joint most of any full-back in competition history alongside Leighton Baines (also 397).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Wolves' performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Arsenal v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Aston Villa v Man City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Wolves v Burnley - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Everton v Tottenham (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Crystal Palace" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Wolves v Burnley", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Two changes made by Vito Pereira from their 2-0 loss to Sunderland, as Ki-Jana Hoever comes in for Matt Doherty, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde replaces Joao Gomes.

Wolves XI: Johnstone, Hoever, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Andre, Bellegarde, Munetsi, Arias, R Gomes, Strand Larsen.

Subs: Wolfe, Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Toti, J Gomes, Lopez, Hwang, Arokodare, Sa

Meanwhile, Scott Parker sticks with the same Burnley starting line-up that beat Leeds United last week.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Hartman, Esteve, Tuanzebe, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Flemming, Cullen, Larsen, Anthony

Subs: Ekdal, Pires, Laurent, Edwards, Broja, Foster, Tchaouna, Mejbri, Weiss

Wolves have to win eventually and at home to Burnley feels like the game it really has to happen for them - their fans will definitely be thinking that.

Burnley will be eyeing victory too, though. They will take great encouragement from their win over Leeds last time out, and they could do Wolves a lot of damage if they beat them.

All things considered, it would be easy to go for a draw, but I am going to back Wolves to break their duck.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sophie Trifonoff
BBC Sport journalist

Bottom club Wolves host a Burnley team buoyed by their win over Leeds last weekend.

Despite sitting bottom of the Premier League table with just two points after the opening eight games, it is not all doom and gloom for Wolves.

Vitor Pereira's side are without a league win since April, when they defeated Leicester 3-0 in a run of six successive victories. Since then, they have lost to two of the newly promoted sides this season, with the third - Burnley - as their next opponents.

There is increasing pressure on Pereira, with the Portuguese currently the bookmakers' favourite to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked - despite signing a new contract a month ago.

But this situation is nothing new for Wolves. At this stage last season, they had only one point in eight games under Gary O'Neil. They picked up eight more points in as many matches before Pereira was brought in, with Wolves going on to avoid relegation and finish 16th.

Since the start of the Premier League era, 13 teams have picked up two points or fewer in their first eight games of a season. Five of those avoided relegation - including Wolves last season.

The highest finish for one of those teams came in 2008-09, when Tottenham recovered to come eighth.

Pereira has called the Burnley match a "must win" for his side but he has continued to back his players - and himself.

"Honestly, if for one minute I feel my players are not with me, it's finished. For me, that's the end," he said.

"It's painful and I'm worried but I see a team connected mentally with good spirit, with character, trying their best to change the situation."

In the previous two Premier League seasons, all three promoted sides went on to get relegated each time. But there is a different feeling around this season's newcomers, who have the highest combined points tally (29) of any promoted trio in the past 10 seasons.

Sunderland began this round of fixtures in seventh, with Leeds and Burnley earning two wins each.

Burnley may only be 17th with seven points, but Scott Parker's side have faced some heavyweight opposition in Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. They have also beaten both of their fellow promoted sides with 2-0 wins at Turf Moor.

Their record on the road, however, is another matter. Burnley have lost all four of their away matches this season, conceding 13 goals.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Wolves at Molineux (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Parker confirmed they have "no fresh injury news" with forward Lyle Foster "back in contention" having trained with the team this week.

• The Clarets boss feels the "best part of any football club is the next day after three points" as he reflected on their second win of the season against Leeds last weekend: "We know how difficult it is to do. [It has been] massively positive around the place and I was really pleased after a good performance."

• He said Burnley "need to produce the same level" again but there are still "elements to improve", adding: "I have seen in this group there is a real honesty; a hard work, full focus commitment and desire that gets you far. That will get us far this year. Add that to the quality and a fresh, young team we have then that can help us."

• On the change of shape against Leeds: "Really pleased with that. More pleased with all the players who worked on the different shape and were flexible. It was a real compliment to them that they executed that and, in a limited amount of time, got clear understanding of what we wanted. We are in a time when we can vary whether we go back three or back four. I'm not sure it will stay, but we know we can use that."

• On if being high up in statistics for long balls matters if a team is winning: "I don't think so, if you are winning. Fundamentally, your main objective needs to be to win. You can have the best stats ever but questions will still be asked if you are not winning. If you have the most possession then people ask if you need to play long more if you are not winning. There is always context to these things."

• Parker agreed that getting a first win away from home would be the next psychological hurdle for the team to overcome: "Winning away from home is tough. For sure, it will be an extra driver for us. We are in a good place, have had good results and now need to try to get our first away result - that will be key for us."

• Players contributing goals from different areas of the pitch will be "key" for Burnley, and Parker praised midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu after his recent goals: "He has got that in his game. He is technically very good, arrives in the box and has presence about him. His goals epitomised that."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Wolves v Burnley on Sunday from 14:00 GMT on Sports Extra 3 on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Lancashire (95.5, 103.9, 104.5FM and DAB) from 13:45

Image source, Getty Images

You have been sending in your questions as part of our "Ask about Burnley" service, using this form.

Roger enquired about the fitness of Jordan Beyer, who has not played for the club for nearly two years.

We put that to BBC Radio Lancashire's Scott Read:

As I understand it Jordan suffered an inner meniscus (knee) injury in a game against Luton Town in October 2023 and was out for about a month.

He then returned and played nine more Premier League matches that season.

The injury flared back up and his final appearance came against Aston Villa when he lasted 17 minutes on 30 December 2023.

He underwent surgery the following year and played no part in the promotion winning season under Scott Parker.

This summer, he played a friendly game in pre-season for 20 minutes and told Burnley FC's website that: "It feels incredible - I'm close to tears"

However, Scott Parker confirmed last week that he has suffered a further setback in his recovery and did not give a timescale for his return..

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We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

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