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Burnley-Manchester City Preview: Calm before the storm

By J.C. Gonzalez

Burnley's English defender Matthew Lowton (L) vies with Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 28, 2020. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / 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 LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Burnley's English defender Matthew Lowton (L) vies with Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 28, 2020. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / 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 LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Manchester City have one more match before a frightening five-game run of fixtures in February that will all but determine their Premier League title credentials. City have taken maximum points from a relatively straightforward set of games, vaulting them to the top of the Premier League and firm favorites to win the title, and City will have one more chance to take full points against lesser opposition in Burnley before the real work begins.

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After this match, City will face four of the current top six as well as Big Six opposition in Arsenal. Games against Liverpool at Anfield, Manchester United, and Tottenham stand out as potentially season-defining, and City’s incredible run will in all likelihood end in at least one of these difficult fixtures. Therefore, establishing the biggest gap possible is crucial, and they have one more chance to take advantage of their good form against a Burnley side coasting clear of the bottom three at the moment.

After an impressive come-from-behind 3-2 win against Aston Villa in January, Burnley are a full eight points above Fulham in 18th level on 20 games played. City will be massive favorites in this match, but Burnley will be looking to take something away from a difficult stretch of games following a 2-0 defeat to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.

City’s run has completely changed the expectations and tone of the campaign, but the real work remains to be done. The Blues will likely be either firmly in the driver’s seat for the title or looking up at a new league leader by the end of February, and avoiding dropping points at Turf Moor will be massive heading into such a difficult spell.

Next. Manchester City 1-0 Sheffield United: Getting the job done. dark

Predicted XI: Ederson (GK), Kyle Walker (RB), John Stones (CB), Rúben Dias (CB), Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB), Rodri (CDM), İlkay Gündoğan (CAM), Bernardo Silva (CAM), Raheem Sterling (RW), Gabriel Jesus (ST), Phil Foden (LW)