Preview: Manchester City host Burnley
Premier League title contenders Manchester City are playing catch up after a mixed start to the campaign.
By Neel Shelat
A crucial run of fixtures for Manchester City
We are five matches into the new Premier League season, but Manchester City have surprisingly still dropped points more often than not. Despite the late concession, last weekend’s draw with Arsenal was not such a disappointing result, but losses to Tottenham and Brighton have left them on the back foot compared to the other title contenders.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now entering a relatively easier stretch of matches starting this weekend. Brentford, Everton, Aston Villa and Bournemouth will be their subsequent opponents in the league, leading up to a huge clash against early leaders Liverpool in November. City simply have to pick up 15 points from their next five games if they are to avoid drifting too far from the title race again.
Red-hot Haaland hoping to lead City’s attack
Erling Haaland missed City’s midweek Carabao Cup match due to a minor back injury but is likely to return to the line-up for this game. He has been in unstoppable form this season having netted 12 times in his last six appearances for club and country, and last going goalless over a month ago in the loss to Spurs.
The Norwegian striker has an even greater goalscoring responsibility in the absence of the likes of Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki, so all eyes will be on him yet again.
Another resolute defensive showing needed for Burnley
Burnley have the lowest possession average in the Premier League so far this season at barely over 33%, but their defensive record is far from the worst. The match against Liverpool stands out as the Clarets saw less than 20% of the ball but resisted waves of pressure and restricted the defending champions in open play before being undone by a late red card and stoppage-time penalty.
Burnley will surely be similarly starved of the ball at the Etihad Stadium, so Scott Parker must have spent the week drilling his defence into being as solid as possible.
City’s dominant head-to-head record
Burnley might take a little encouragement from Manchester City’s recent inconsistency, but they certainly will not want to glance at their head-to-head record. The Clarets have lost each of their last 13 meetings across all competitions, with just two goals scored and a whopping 46 conceded!
Their fortunes have been even worse in Manchester as they got a result over a decade ago with a 2-2 draw in 2014, while their last away win against City was at Maine Road all the way back in 1963. The hosts would go on to get relegated that year, while Burnley finished in the top three.
Prediction
By all metrics, City are massive favourites in this game and should coast to a comfortable win, likely with Haaland on the scoresheet.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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