Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

In the first couple of minutes, Mason Greenwood was beginning a run inside from the right wing.

Edinson Cavani on his inside immediately spotted it and told him to stay where he was.

The home side are playing four men right across the front line, with Ronaldo to the left of Cavani, which is where he got his chance from.

Well, this has started brightly.

Lovely stuff.

Image source, Getty Images

Collector's item! A Cristiano Ronaldo one-on-one miss!

He gathers superbly to bring the ball down behind the Burnley defence. Great first touch. The resulting one isn't, though. He fires his effort over the bar. Doesn't even force Wayne Hennessey into a save.

Burnley have come out swinging.

Chris Wood is found on the break by Aaron Lennon. His shot from range curls past the post before the flag goes up for offside.

It's still a big warning for the home team, though.

First real chance goes to the away side. It is a good one too. Johann Berg Gudmundsson gets away down the left. His cross falls to Dwight McNeil who's shot is blocked. The ball is crossed back in for an unmarked Chris Wood to head over.

Who was meant to be making him?

There are empty seats in the stands, which is a rarity here in normal circumstances. It's becoming a common sight, though, with Covid continuing to impact on society.

Plenty of noise from the away fans. The Clarets might be outplayed on the pitch tonight, but they're not planning on getting outsung in the stands.

Needs must for Burnley with their resources depleted. Looks like Aaron Lennon will be playing as a withdrawn forward.

He makes an early dart after a launched ball but the home defence stands firm.

Our one game of the evening is under way. Let's have some goals, yeah?

Image source, Getty Images

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin...

Image source, BBC Sport

Lawro's prediction: 3-0

Burnley's biggest problem is that they have stopped scoring - they have managed only one goal in their past three games and have managed only 14 in total so far this season.

Manchester United's issue under previous manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was that they conceded too easily but it appears Ralf Rangnick has put that right, and I don't see the Clarets giving them many scares.

James's prediction: 5-0

I've got a bit of a soft spot for United because they were so good when I was growing up. This should be pretty comfortable for them.

Find out how Lawro and James thought the rest of the midweek fixtures would go

Image source, BBC Sport

• Manchester United have lost just one of their past 13 Premier League games against Burnley (W8 D4), beaten 2-0 at Old Trafford in January 2020.
• 60% of Burnley’s Premier League points against Manchester United have come at Old Trafford (6/10 – W1 D3 L3). In Premier League history only Cardiff (75%), West Bromwich Albion (67%) and Crystal Palace (64%) have won a higher share of their points against the Red Devils away from home.
• United are unbeaten in their final league game in each of the past nine calendar years (W6 D3) since a 3-2 loss against Blackburn at Old Trafford in 2011.
• Burnley have lost their final league game in just one of the past eight calendar years (W4 D3), though that defeat did come against Manchester United in 2019 (2-0).

Image source, Getty Images

There is huge pressure on interim manager Ralf Rangnick to secure a top-four finish for United, according to former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.

United are seven points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, having played two games less, ahead of Thursday's visit of Burnley to Old Trafford.

"It’s such an interesting situation especially because this year, I feel United have the most pressure in terms of finishing in the top four," Onuoha told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily.

"If he doesn’t achieve that goal, does that not mean he has failed? And then it’s going to be a failed consultant to pick the next manager, in a system which is still early doors, but people aren’t really seeing the benefits of it.

"The change in system feels like it has high potential but Manchester United aren’t a project. They need results now. They need something now.

"Why are we going to say this player doesn’t fit the system. If the system is not right, then what is he doing? He must believe this is the best system for United.

"Has he misjudged this massively, or are we just seeing the early stages of something, because I really can’t put my finger on it."

Hear more on Man Utd and the fight for fourth place (from 22'35) on the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Bill Rice
BBC Radio Manchester

Four games into his Old Trafford tenure, and Ralf Rangnick is now well aware of how big a challenge he is facing.

Despite a wealth of attacking talent, the Reds were outplayed and fortunate to escape with a point at Newcastle on Monday, with the on-field histrionics of frustrated players seen as evidence of unrest.

Former United captain Gary Neville suggested the dressing room is divided, while the likes of Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek and Phil Jones are all itching to move on in January, and the contracts of Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard are running down.

Rangnick said it wasn't a question of body language but a lack of physicality in the draw at St James' Park, something that is sure to be tested again by Burnley at Old Trafford.

With reports United's players have also struggled to adjust to later sessions that have seen them leave their Carrington training ground after the sun has set, it is now up to the manager to make sure they are not metaphorically left in the dark when it comes to tactics and what he wants from them against Burnley.

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has failed to make the instant impact on the Premier League that other foreign managers have enjoyed, says Don Hutchinson.

United have won two and drawn one of the German’s games in charge but the victories over Crystal Palace and Norwich were narrow and the draw with Newcastle somewhat fortunate.

While Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea last season and Antonio Conte at Tottenham this term have been immediate hits, former Liverpool and West Ham midfielder Hutchinson has been less convinced by Rangnick.

“I look at the Manchester United dressing room and the make-up of it, the stars that they’ve got, and are those players receptive enough to take on board what he wants?” Hutchinson said on the Football Daily podcast.

“I’ll give him the Palace game as his first game. The game after that, they got pumped against Norwich, who should have scored four or five. Then Newcastle hit the post, Saint-Maximin missed a sitter, De Gea at the end pulls a worldie off Almiron.

“Whether it’s Ralf Rangnick’s not good enough or the group of players he’s working with can’t take his instructions on board, it has to be one or the other.”

Hear more on Rangnick and United from Hutchinson and other pundits from 20'24 on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Late goals from Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani helped United hold off a spirited Burnley 3-1 when they faced each other in April.

Mason Greenwood saw his thumping opener after the break quickly cancelled out when James Tarkowski rose above Harry Maguire to level.

Greenwood put the hosts back in front six minutes from time with a fierce left-footed strike that deflected beyond goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell at the front post.

And Edinson Cavani then tapped in from close range in stoppage time to wrap up the victory at Old Trafford.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

It is Sir Alex Ferguson's 80th birthday tomorrow.

The stadium announcer here at Old Trafford has just said a banner is going to be unfurled in his honour at the Stretford End of the ground before kick-off.

Image source, BBC Sport

• Manchester United's only defeat in the past 13 league meetings was by 2-0 at Old Trafford in January 2020.
• The Red Devils are aiming to win three consecutive league fixtures against Burnley for the first time since a run of four from 1956 to 1957.