Scott Parker is filled with anticipation as he prepares to lead Burnley against his former club, Tottenham Hotspur, in their Premier League return. After guiding the Clarets to a stellar automatic promotion in the 2024-25 season, amassing an impressive 100 points and narrowly missing the Championship title to Leeds United on goal difference, Parker is eager to test his squad against top-tier competition.
However, Burnley's preparations for the new campaign have been less than ideal. Their preseason friendlies yielded mixed results, with only one victory in five matches. Their final tune-up before the trip to Tottenham saw them suffer a 1-0 defeat against Serie A powerhouse Lazio, leaving Parker with some concerns heading into the opening fixture.
This match marks Parker's third encounter against Spurs as a manager. During his tenure with Fulham in the 2020-21 Premier League season, he secured a 1-1 draw away but fell to a 1-0 defeat at home. Despite the previous results, Parker relishes the opportunity to return to familiar territory.
"We're excited about the challenge ahead," Parker stated. "We've dedicated ourselves in preseason to ensure we're fully prepared for the Premier League. We are looking forward to the season and we know the challenge that awaits."
He further emphasized the squad's positive mindset, saying, "There’s a great humility about this group and the way we’ve gone about our work in pre-season, and we feel we’re in a good place."
Burnley have been active in the transfer market, bolstering their squad with 13 new signings as they aim to solidify their Premier League status. Notable additions include Martin Dubravka, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Armando Broja. However, the trio did not feature in the defeat to Lazio, as Parker continues to manage their integration into the team.
"We're still managing the workload of some players, including the new lads," Parker explained. "Lesley got 60 minutes under his belt and some of the other lads got some important game time too."
He added, "We’ve looked at the data of the players and felt it was probably just too early for Martin and Armando to play, that’s why only Lesley got game time today out of the three of them."
Meanwhile, Tottenham enters the game just days after a painful penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final. Thomas Frank, in his first competitive match as Spurs manager, witnessed his team squander a two-goal lead and ultimately lose the trophy on penalties. Nuno Mendes sealed the victory for PSG after Micky van de Ven's penalty was saved and Mathys Tel fired wide.
Despite the disappointment, Frank remains optimistic about his first Premier League game in charge. "It is a short turnaround, there will be disappointment in the next 24 hours, but tomorrow we will be ready, and Friday we will be more ready," Frank said.
"And we will make sure we come flying out on Saturday."
Frank also emphasized the significance of set-pieces. "It is key. For any team, it should be a weapon in my opinion," he stated. "We will definitely be focusing on it because I think it is a key area. At times, I think we showed that we can play up against any team in the world."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tottenham – Brennan Johnson
Spurs' Europa League standout Brennan Johnson is expected to play a crucial role this season. Last season, Johnson's 11 Premier League goals led the team. With injuries impacting James Maddison and the departure of Son Heung-min, Frank will rely on Johnson to provide an attacking spark.
Burnley – Maxime Esteve
Burnley's Championship success hinged on their solid defense, with Esteve playing a vital role. With 30 clean sheets, 230 clearances, and 41 blocks last season, Esteve's defensive prowess will be crucial in the Premier League.
MATCH PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM WIN
Tottenham has a strong home record against promoted teams, winning eight of their nine top-flight home games against Burnley. Despite last season's struggles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Frank will aim to start his Premier League tenure with a victory. However, Burnley has lost their opening match in each of their last three Premier League campaigns.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Tottenham – 66.3%
Draw – 18.9%
Burnley – 14.9%
