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Player Ratings: Manchester City sweep aside Burnley

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Ferran Torres (L) vies with Burnley's English defender Matthew Lowton (R) during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England on September 30, 2020. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Ferran Torres (L) vies with Burnley's English defender Matthew Lowton (R) during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England on September 30, 2020. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Manchester City calmly cruised through to the next round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 win over Burnley.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was clearly dissatisfied with his team’s performance at the weekend as City played a strong lineup and thrashed Burnley to advance in a relatively straightforward evening. As the quest for a fourth straight Carabao Cup title continues, City looked comfortable on what was a night defined by difficult weather conditions away from home.

Defense

Zack Steffen (GK): Looks like a solid presence at the back who can mature into real competition for Ederson. (7)

Kyle Walker (RB): Looked much more comfortable keeping everything in front of him after a dismal Leicester performance while linking the play going forward down the flank. (7)

Fernandinho (CB): Started the game in defense, but looked better after moving to midfield, where he has been excellent so far this season. (6)

Aymeric Laporte (CB): His importance to the team cannot be overstated. Once again, he must stay fit for City to have any chance this year, which was ever-apparent against Leicester. (7.5)

Benjamin Mendy (LB): While he did little defensively in this game to convince me that he should be a part of the first-team picture moving forward, he delivered a good cross that ended in an assist and should continue to work on his game in cup matches. (7.5)

Midfield

Rodri (CDM): Looked far more comfortable in his usual lone holding role than he did in the second half against Leicester, keeping control of the game. (7)

Kevin De Bruyne (CAM): At his creative best, the Belgian was at the heart of the good things City did moving forward and will need to keep up the form as they head back into Premier League action. (7.5)

Cole Palmer (CAM): Found himself regularly involved on his first team debut, showing real initiative that was beyond his years, and could have even scored himself a goal. (7.5)

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Attack

Riyad Mahrez (RW): Drifted centrally at times given City’s lack of a true striker, where he has looked a bit uneasy at times this season but played relatively well in terms of chance creation. (7)

Raheem Sterling (ST): A Man of the Match performance and an exciting link-up with Ferran Torres following a lackluster performance down the middle against Leicester. With two goals and an assist today, Sterling will need to bring this form into the league moving forward. (8.5)

Ferran Torres (LW): Easily his best performance in a City shirt. After showing flashes of promise but little consistency in limited opportunities, the Spanish international announced his presence in a big way with a goal and assist, and just coming behind Sterling for City’s best player. (8)

Substitutes

Bernardo Silva (CAM): Made his first appearance of what will be a crucial season with little to show for it off the bench. (6)

Nathan Aké (CB): Seeing Laporte and Aké play in the same team for the first time was exciting, although his role should be reduced with the arrival of Rúben Dias. (6.5)

Taylor Harwood-Bellis (CB): As the heir apparent to City’s best academy defender once Eric García eventually departs, he gathered good experience along several of City’s experienced professionals. (6)