Burnley v Aston Villa: Build-up, team news & live match updates as Clarets chase first win

And welcome to today’s live blog!

After over two weeks without a game, Vincent Kompany’s men return to action today with a home clash against Aston Villa.

Follow our blog for pre-match build-up, team news, live match updates and post-match reaction.

Burnley return to action today when they take on Aston Villa in their second game of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

The Clarets weren’t in action last week after their scheduled fixture against Luton Town was postponed owing to the ongoing ground improvements at the Hatters’ Kenilworth Road stadium.

By the time Vincent Kompany’s men line up against Villa this afternoon, 16 days will have passed since the club’s Premier League opener against Manchester City.

As for Unai Emery’s side, they bounced back from their opening day defeat to Newcastle United in emphatic style, overcoming Everton 4-0 before thrashing Hibernian 5-0 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier.

Michael Salisbury is the man in charge this afternoon. He’s yet to officiate a game so far this season but last term he oversaw 31 games, dishing out 110 yellow cards and four reds.

One of those reds came in a Burnley game in April, when Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham was dismissed during the Clarets’ 2-0 win at Turf Moor.

Vincent Kompany has revealed Michael Obafemi is still some time away from making his return for Burnley.

The forward remains sidelined with a hamstring issue he suffered while away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland at the end of last season.

The 23-year-old underwent successful surgery to resolve the injury at the start of July, but a return isn’t on the cards just yet.

Elsewhere, the Clarets are still without Darko Churlinov who suffered a serious health scare in June.

Anass Zaroury, meanwhile, will also be absent for the game against Aston Villa on Sunday as he serves the first of his three-match suspension.

It comes after the Moroccan was shown a red card during Burnley’s opening fixture of the season against Manchester City for a cynical foul on Kyle Walker.

One player who could make his Burnley debut this weekend is Aaron Ramsey, who - somewhat ironically - recently arrived from Sunday’s opponents Aston Villa.

As for Unai Emery’s side, they could be without goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after he was brought off at half-time against Hibernian in midweek.

Aaron Ramsey’s brother Jacob will miss out with an ankle complaint, while Àlex Moreno (hamstring), Philippe Coutinho (hamstring), Leander Dendoncker (muscular), Tyrone Mings (knee) and Emiliano Buendía (knee) are all sidelined.

“They’re an impressive squad. You can see it’s one of these squads that is settled in the Premier League now and they’ve been able to have a few rounds of recruitment and a few rounds of developing their own players.

“It’s a robust team, athletic, good speed, definitely worth being part of the discussion for the top eight in England which is of such a high standard and such a high level.

“I’ve already gathered there’s not going to be any easy games for us this season, so we will approach it the same way of any other game and try and give ourselves a chance of winning the game.”

“They are a very good, organised team. They will demand from us defensively and when they play without the ball, they go man to man.

“We have to be demanding in how we can be consistent in 90 minutes playing and avoiding their organisation.

“I am sharing with our players the challenge of Sunday, we have to respect them because they deserve it. From minute one we have to face them like they are and we have to do all our best.”

The Clarets will definitely be without Anass Zaroury through suspension following his red card against Man City, while Darko Churlinov (health scare) and Michael Obafemi (hamstring) both remain sidelined.

With that in mind, here’s how we think Kompany’s side might line up...

Burnley 21/10

Draw 5/2

Aston Villa 6/5

Odds according to Betway

Vincent Kompany has made two changes to his Burnley side for this afternoon’s clash against Aston Villa.

The Clarets return to action at Turf Moor (2pm kick-off) for the first time since their Premier League opener against Manchester City, which was 16 days ago.

Kompany’s men were initially scheduled to face Luton Town last weekend but that fixture had to be postponed owing to the £13m worth of ground improvements at the Hatters’ Kenilworth Road ground.

Hannes Delcroix, a recent addition from Belgian side Anderlecht, comes into the Burnley side for his debut.

Manuel Benson is also handed his first start of the season after starting on the bench during the 3-0 defeat to Man City.

Jordan Beyer, who is left out of the squad completely, and Vitinho are the two names to make way.

Aaron Ramsey, who recently made the move to Turf Moor from Villa, is named among the substitutes.

Elsewhere, Anass Zaroury serves the first game of his three-match suspension following the red card he was shown in the Premier League opener against Manchester City.

Darko Churlinov (health scare) and Michael Obafemi (hamstring) also miss out.

As for Villa, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez misses out with a knock he picked up during the midweek thrashing of Hibernian in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier.

Aaron Ramsey’s brother Jacob misses out with an ankle complaint, while Àlex Moreno (hamstring), Philippe Coutinho (hamstring), Leander Dendoncker (muscular), Tyrone Mings (knee) and Emiliano Buendía (knee) are also sidelined.