PL PREVIEW: Manchester City v Burnley

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Improving Clarets face former champions

2020-11-27T17:48:57.738Z

PL PREVIEW: Manchester City v Burnley

Improving Clarets face former champions

2020-11-27T17:48:57.738Z

Improving Clarets face former champions

The Clarets return to the Etihad Stadium for the first time since resuming their 2019/20 campaign at City following project restart in June.

A tough night ended with a third successive 5-0 defeat at the home of the four-time Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola’s side has not been in such free-scoring form this time around and currently sit in the bottom half of the table after one of their slowest starts to a season for more than a decade.

And the Clarets will be looking to keep it tighter on the back of some encouraging form which has brought them three clean sheets in their last five games.

A shut-out against Crystal Palace on Monday night coincided with Burnley’s first league win of the season as they climbed out of the bottom three.

Sean Dyche’s men have also kept successive clean sheets away from home and while the Burnley boss doesn’t accept City’s powers are on the wane, he insists his players will not be dwelling on past experiences as they hunt a first away win.

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“It’s the reality of this division,” said Dyche. “You catch any of the top sides when they’re really on their day, which happened a couple of times against us, and they’re capable of dismantling (you).

“You need to play well, you need to work well from your shape, you need some decisions possibly, you need them to maybe have a quiet day. That’s life in the Premier League when you’re us.

“But we never feared it, we never look away from the challenge of it. We’ll take it on. Sometimes it works for you, sometimes it doesn’t.

“I still think they’re a proper outfit. They’re still a top side, still operating in a very, very good manner.

“It’s always a tough task playing these sides, we know that. On the other hand, we go open-minded. Every game is there to be won.”

Team news

Clarets keeper Nick Pope may miss his first Premier League game since May, 2018 after getting a knock to the head in Monday night’s win over Crystal Palace.

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Bailey Peacock-Farrell stands by for a top-flight debut.

Winger Robbie Brady looks likely to join midfielders Dale Stephens and Jack Cork on the sidelines.

Manchester City have defensive summer signing Nathan Ake available following an injury picked up on international duty with the Netherlands in a fully fit squad.

Striker Sergio Aguero could make just a third league appearance since being injured against the Clarets in their first game back after re-start last season.

Form guide

The Clarets secured their first league win of the season last time out to move to 17th in the table.

Sean Dyche’s men are also unbeaten in their last two away games.

Manchester City are 13th in the table after winning just three times in eight Premier League games.

The former champions have only played three home league games with a win, a draw and a defeat – scoring four times.

City have failed to win in their last two league games but secured the mid-week victory over Olympiakos in Greece which allowed them to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

The holders are also through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup after winning 3-0 at Turf Moor in round the fourth round.

Opposition camp

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on City’s search for more goals: “What is important is in the last games we played we created much more than the opponent.

PL PREVIEW: Manchester City v Burnley - Image 4

“Always you are closer to winning if you create more chances. One day we will score the goals, put on the table what we deserve.

“It’s time to put more players in the box, be positive and it will happen.

“We need to continue the good feelings and tomorrow try to score goals.”

Match stats

Burnley goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell could make a Premier League debut and play his first league game since helping Leeds United beat Millwall at Elland Road in March 2019.

Clarets defender James Tarkowski is set to make the 250th league start of his career. He is currently on 116 (Burnley), 70 (Brentford) and 63 (Oldham).

PL PREVIEW: Manchester City v Burnley - Image 5

The Clarets could equal the club’s top-flight record of three successive away clean sheets, achieved most recently in 1955.

Manchester City’s total of 12 points is their lowest tally after eight games of a season since 2008-09.

It’s also the first time a City side has scored so few goals (10) at this stage of a season in 14 years.

City could extend a winless league run to three games for the first time since the spring of 2017.

Referee

Lee Mason

VAR

Robert Jones

Kick-off

Saturday 3pm

Coverage

BT Sports

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