Competition: Premier League – Burnley vs. Manchester City
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Venue: Turf Moor – Saturday, November 26 – 12:30 GMT (07:30 ET)
Match Odds: Burnley 17/2 – Draw 17/4 – Manchester City 30/100
Match Preview
Burnley welcome Manchester City to Turf Moor on Saturday lunchtime in a game that looks set to be far from straightforward for either side.
Sean Dyche will be disappointed with the manor they lost their last game. The 4-0 drubbing away at West Brom wasn’t a reflection on how they have performed since their return to the Premier League. It is a result they need to quickly get over and bounce back from to avoid it being the start of a dull run of form.
Other than that result, The Clarets have been in solid form of late, picking up seven points from 15 in their last five games. This is going to be a real test of their resolve, but we have already seen how frustrating Burnley can be to play against this season.
Burnley have reason to believe they can pick up a favourable result against City, given a number of their impressive home results this season. The main thing for them in this game is to avoid being caught out early on, otherwise they could be in for a long afternoon.
Manchester City come into this game having won 2-1 in a cagey affair away at Palace. The return of Yaya Toure was welcomed as he netted both goals, which would have sent out a message of warning to the rest of the league, no club needs telling how dangerous the Ivorian powerhouse is.
Pep Guardiola will be pleased with the power his City side have been playing with and knows it’s only a matter of time before everything clicks into place. They’re creating well but just need to be more clinical in the final third.
City have to win this game, there are significant fixtures in the race for the title this weekend and they cannot afford to be off the pace at the start of December.
Guardiola’s side have been travelling well. They’ve won their last five away games in the Premier League and will expect to make it six on the bounce here. Worryingly for City they are leaking goals at the back, which will give Burnley hope heading into this one, but a win looks likely for The Citizens even if it is a tight affair.
Team News
Burnley have no injury concerns heading into this game. The decision Dyche has to make is how to set up to prevent being picked apart by City. He will more than likely pack out the midfield and aim for Burnley to break the game up.
Manchester City are set to be without captain Vincent Kompany as he has picked up another injury, which begs the question, will he get any luck and a run in the side? Fabian Delph is City’s only other injury concern. Guardiola will be expecting an intensive performance from his players, they’ll be looking to starve Burnley of the ball and will need their midfield to be energetic in order to do so.
Key Points
Burnley’s last five: L/W/D/W/L
Manchester City’s last five: D/D/W/D/W
Key Stat: One for the road – Manchester City have won their last five Premier League away games.
Key Player: Tom Heaton – The Burnley ‘keeper has already thwarted one Manchester club this season with an astonishing performance, he will need to be at his best once again if his side are to take a positive result here. Expect him to be busy.
Score Prediction
Burnley 1-3 Manchester City – Burnley to fall short in a game they can be forgiven for doing so. Manchester City have so much firepower in their squad that a win looks the most likely outcome. Guardiola will be disappointed if his side are to concede once again, but the three points will be the most important thing for him and his squad.
