PL PREVIEW: MAN CITY V BURNLEY

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

The Clarets travel to the Etihad to take on the champions

2021-10-15T16:52:29.854Z

PL PREVIEW: MAN CITY V BURNLEY

The Clarets travel to the Etihad to take on the champions

2021-10-15T16:52:29.854Z

The Clarets travel to the Etihad to take on the champions

The Premier League returns to action after the latest international break with Burnley travelling to take on reigning champions Manchester City at the Etihad.

Manager Sean Dyche is aware of how tough the challenge will be.

"We won at Liverpool last season, we won at Arsenal, things can change, but analytically it is tough coming up against the big sides, who have fantastic players."

Burnley are waiting for their first Premier League win of the season. Dyche knows it’s a very competitive division.

"It's tough, it's the Premier League, the expectations, sometimes it takes a stuffy one to get a win, we're working hard to make it our way, it's forever tough.

“It is peculiar when people write you off, because you don’t lessen your demand on the group, but outsiders do. It is something that comes round your way when you’re Burnley.”

PL PREVIEW: MAN CITY V BURNLEY - Image 1

Team news

Skipper Ben Mee has tested positive for Covid_19, he is in isolation and will miss the game.

Long-term absentee Dale Stephens remains unavailable through injury but he is making good progress.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson pulled out of Iceland’s recent squad but is available for selection.

Connor Roberts and Maxwel Cornet have been on international duty and look set to be available for the trip to East Manchester.

Matej Vydra was substituted with a knock at half-time in the Czech Republic’s 2-0 win in Belarus.

Charlie Taylor has been struggling with a knock and will be assessed.

Ferran Torres was injured on international duty with Spain and will miss the game.

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ilkay Gundogan both returned to training this week and are likely to be involved.

Both Ederson and Gabriel Jesus played for Brazil on Friday and look set to miss the game.

PL PREVIEW: MAN CITY V BURNLEY - Image 2

Form guide

Burnley's last win in the Premier League came in a crucial 2-0 success at Fulham back in May. Their last four Premier League wins have all come away from home. The Clarets drew 0-0 with Norwich City at Turf Moor in their last game before the international break.

Last time out Manchester City drew 2-2 at Anfield with goals from Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.

Opposition camp

Pep Guardiola’s team won the Premier League last season with 86 points, 12 clear of nearest rivals Manchester United.

After 11 games of the 2021/22 season, they have lost three games, all in different competitions - 1-0 to Leicester City in the Community Shield, 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and 2-0 to Paris St Germain in the Champions League

PL PREVIEW: MAN CITY V BURNLEY - Image 3

Guardiola has a lot of respect for his opposite number.

"The manager plays a certain way, he's a machine doing that.

"The way how he commits to his principles, that's why he stays in the Premier League a long time and extends his contract, he never gives up. Doesn't matter what happens, go to Anfield and Emirates to win. Heart, passion and character to win.

City had five players starting in England’s draw against Hungary on Tuesday. It’s a club record beating the four starters against Switzerland in 2010.

The former Barcelona boss answered questions on why England stars John Stones and Raheem Sterling haven’t been starting recently.

“For anyone who doesn’t play, they have to accept my decision. “I am the manager. I don't take decision for the benefit of the player - I think the best for the team to win games.

“That's why we are here, to make out fans, owners, bosses happy and proud of what we do. It’s the only solution to moving forward.”

Match stats

Manchester City have won the Etihad fixture 5-0 on the last four occasions. Burnley have two Premier League draws at this venue, 3-3 in 2009/10 and 2-2 in 2014/15.

Maxwel Cornet has scored four goals for Lyon against Manchester City in three Champions League games.

Sean Dyche has managed Burnley to two wins away to the reigning Premier League champions – Chelsea (2017) and Liverpool (2020). Only Sir Alex Ferguson has managed this on more occasions (three).

Riyad Mahrez has scored eight goals against the Clarets (seven for Manchester City and one for Leicester City).

Fernandinho is one short of becoming the second Brazilian to make 250 Premier League appearances – Willian was the first.

Referee

Martin Atkinson

VAR

Andre Marriner

Kick off

Saturday 16 October 2021 3pm

Broadcast

There will be audio commentary on Clarets+ with Phil Bird and ex-Claret George Boyd from 2.45pm.