Leeds United v Burnley: YEP Jury give their big match predictions

ANDY RHODES

Football at Christmas is usually something that we all look forward to, and despite last weekend’s disappointing result, this will be no different.

Burnley will pose an entirely different challenge to Manchester United. The Clarets will likely sit deep and, unsurprisingly, look to score from set pieces. Sigh.

This will be a likely route to goal for many of Leeds’ opponents over the festive period as they look to capitalise on another change in defence after Liam Cooper limped off at Old Trafford.

In attack, though, Leeds continue to find the net. Raphinha’s creativity was again on show last weekend, while Stuart Dallas has popped up with two goals in two games.

On paper you would say that this might be less of a high-scoring affair, but Leeds don’t know the meaning of the phrase. While Burnley have scored eight goals all season, United have scored that many in their last three games.

With the games coming thick and fast, now is the time to pick up the points.

Prediction: Leeds United 1 Burnley 0.

DAVID WATKINS

After watching the defeat at Old Trafford again, I don’t think it was as bad as the result suggested and so I’m fairly upbeat about the visit of Burnley to Elland Road.

Nothing much went for us against Man Utd and wasting two big chances and a soft penalty were the difference between the four-goal deficit we suffered and something much closer.

We have to learn the lessons though, in particular we have to start at the first whistle and not five minutes later; we have to take our chances; and we have to be more solid at set pieces.

Do all of that and we ought to have more than enough at our disposal to see off a Burnley side that has managed only eight goals all season – joint fewest along with bottom side Sheffield United. Burnley took a while to get started this season with no wins in their first seven but have since risen to the heady heights of fifth in the current form table with just one defeat in the last seven.

Regardless of that, this is a game we need to be winning in our section of the table and I’m confident we will.

Prediction: Leeds United 3 Burnley 1

MATTHEW EVANS

There is no time to dwell on our previous result. Premier League survival is at stake and that was never going to be secured at Old Trafford was it? Instead, the real battles will take place at home to the likes of Burnley or away at the Hawthorns.

Fortunately, the Christmas period has served up exactly those battles to give us the chance to get back on track and raise confidence. Already the Under-23s have helped us put Sunday’s excoriating defeat behind us with a magnificent 7-1 win against Fulham in which an up and coming player called Pablo Hernandez ran the show.

I’d guess we are likely to see more of El Mago in these next two games. Over several seasons in the Championship he’s become an expert at picking the lock of teams that set up defensively and you’d expect Sean Dyche’s Burnley and Sam Allardyce’s West Brom to do just that. Not for the first time, our traditional Boxing Day fixture isn’t on Boxing Day but we’ll wait the extra 24 hours to give Burnley one of their toughest tests of the season. I’m confident that United will bounce back in style.

Prediction: Leeds United 3 Burnley 1.

JACOB STARR

No Boxing Day fixture for the Whites this year, although Sunday will see them host an in-form Burnley side looking to move to within one point of their counterparts.

The mesmerising, exciting but ultimately painful 6-2 drubbing last weekend still hurts, but a completely contrasting, yet equally as dangerous opponent awaits for Leeds’ next task.

Sean Dyche’s men have put their early season struggles behind them to record only one defeat in their last seven, and are unbeaten in the previous four, including an impressive 2-1 win against Wolves last time out.

We have perhaps found the wrong time to play them, which is also maybe what Burnley are thinking about us. Marcelo Bielsa’s team will be up for it, eager to put the last result behind them.

Who’s going to play centre -back? That’s the key question. With Liam Cooper likely to be on the treatment table, we can only hope Diego Llorente is ready, otherwise there will be no recognised centre-half. But I’m confident Bielsa will have us back on it.

Prediction: Leeds United 3 Burnley 1.

KEITH INGHAM

Leeds have to dust themselves down after the heavy defeat in Salford.

It’s not an easy task because whatever the players say, defeats like the one they suffered last Sunday will have hurt their pride, but on other occasions when results have gone against them they have responded superbly.

Sunday’s opponents are Burnley, who have former Leeds players Chris Wood and Charlie Taylor in their squad with both wanting to put one over their old employers.

Leeds have a doubt over Liam Cooper who hurt his back on Sunday and if he is ruled out then the baton will be passed to either Pascal Struijk or Oliver Casey alongside Luke Ayling which will be the eighth different centre-back partnership in 14 Premier League games.

I’ve been to quite a few of these games dating back to 1974, unfortunately this time once again no fans will be there to show off their new Christmas Leeds items. Most of the matches between the two teams have been tight affairs and I see this going the same way.

Prediction: Leeds 2 Burnley 1.

MIKE GILL

The aftermath of the Manchester United game was very strange.

I can never recall a team receiving so many plaudits after being hammered. Even our old adversary Roy Keane had some good and for once, wise words to say.

But come the 27th of December, all of these sentiments must be discarded along with the unwanted gift wrappings as United get back to the serious business of improving their league standing.

Burnley edged past Wolves on Monday and are now getting a bit too close for comfort.

They may have had a poor start to the season but Sean Dyche is a seasoned campaigner at this level and Burnley will offer stiff opposition. The game is unlikely to be an attractive spectacle and it is to be hoped that Leeds can cobble together a decent defence with the resources available to them because it is unlikely to be a high scoring affair.

Converting whatever chances come their way will also be important if the Whites are to bounce back.

Prediction: Leeds United 2 Burnley 1.

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