Burnley v Manchester City : Match Preview

Another difficult looking away game for Manchester City looms large on the horizon. Will the Blues put in the kind of performance we need to ease the nerves of the City fans?

It is difficult to predict what kind of game Manchester City will face when they line up against Burnley. The storm blowing in for the weekend may make the conditions ideal for the Burnley approach as they jostle for headers and rough up our players. I think it is probably safe to say this game will be no walk in the park.

It comes on the back on an energy sapping run of fixtures which has left City with tired legs and depleted numbers of available players. The absence of Fernandinho will be a blow for us, as will the continued lack of De Bruyne. Kevin in particular has seemed to rack up assists and goals against Burnley so we will need to find inspiration from somewhere else if we are to get over the finish line.

City have banged a few goals in during recent matches against Burnley but none of this is likely to count for very much at all. This is a different kind of match. Burnley are effectively safe from relegation for another season, but will be trying to win to catapult them higher up the table. They will be keen to make a point against us – because we remain the biggest scalp in this League.

There are some historic records stacked up against us at this point. It will require us to win our 12th Premier League game on the bounce at a ground where we have a mixed record and where the gathered denizens of the media will be looking furiously for any sign of failure. Apparently Burnley have beaten the reigning Champions every season they have been back in the top flight.

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Yet all of these are there to be broken.

I have not been to Burnley’s ground for a long time, probably early 1990’s when the dilapidated state of the stands in the cold winter weather was adding to the torture! I have no fond memories of visiting for football – a narrow win I recall – so hope the travelling fans tomorrow have a result they can really cheer about!

Personally I would be happier if City simply ran away with the game from the kick off and allowed me some comfort and chill time rather than dwindle my nerves to the fray as we watch hopelessly as we try to retrieve a game. But of course this is Manchester City so we tend to do things differently here!

Burnley will probably keep things pretty tight, trying to catch us on the break with speedy attacks and mainly set pieces. It will require patience from our midfield to unlock the gathered ranks of men behind the ball and to break what is likely to be a fast half press. I think this is a game where we need to deploy Sane and Sterling to hit with speed, either side of Aguero. We need the two Silvas floating around in midfield, just in front of Gundogan.

At the back we know this is a game of second balls and clattering so I would expect Otamendi and Laporte in the centre back roles with Mendy and Walker on the flanks. If City manage to race into a lead then expect some game time for Foden at least as Guardiola attempts to wrestle with his full squad.

Play at our best and we should be able to get past Burnley, even if they have a couple of penalties! Let us just hope bad decisions do not rob us of an opportunity to win the League as well as the Champions League!

Man City Square Predicted Starting XI

Goalkeeper

Ederson

Defence

Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Mendy

Midfield

Gundogan, Silva, Bernardo

Attack

Sane, Aguero, Sterling