Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Manchester City make the short trip across Lancashire to face Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday lunchtime, with Pep Guardiola’s team looking to extend their run of consecutive Premier League victories to 11. A victory would also take them a step closer to the Premier League title. City beat Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford in midweek, a win that clinched the title for them in the eye of many observers.
Guardiola has urged caution, though, and with some justification, as Burnley are in good form.
The Clarets head into this game in search of their third consecutive home win in the Premier League. They are also unbeaten in their last four matches, and have won three of those. Last weekend, the Clarets drew 2-2 away at Chelsea, a result which followed on from a 2-0 home win over Cardiff City.
Burnley vs Manchester City Prediction: Clarets 1-1 City
Our prediction for this game is that the Clarets will fight hard and hold City to a draw. Although they won at Old Trafford in midweek, City looked nervous at the start of the game against United – a sign perhaps that the tension of the title race is having an effect. We suspect that the game against United may have taken more out of the City players than expected, and they will start sluggishly at Burnley. That slow start will give Burnley the chance to take the lead, though we do not expect Sean Dyche’s men to be able to hang onto that lead.
Our recommended tip: Draw, both score
Our featured tip for this game comes from Coral, who are offering odds of 9/1 on the game being a draw with both teams scoring. We like this bet as it offers great value for punters in terms of the odds on offer. The bookies have made City massive favourites for this game, and you can only really find good odds by betting against them winning the game. This bet matches our prediction that the game will end 1-1, but also gives you a little bit of flexibility when it comes to the precise final scoreline.
Previous matches
City have beaten Burnley 5-0 on two occasions this season. No team has ever scored five or more goals against the same team three times in a single season in English football before. The first meeting was in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium in October. Five different players scored for City that day. The second meeting was in the FA Cup fourth round in January, and was also at the Etihad. Four different City players scored and there was one own goal that day.
There have been nine Premier League meetings in total. City have won five, Burnley one and there have been three draws.
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Players to watch: Ashley Barnes & Sergio Aguero
Ashley Barnes is Burnley’s top scorer in the Premier League this season, having netted 11 times in 34 league games in 2018/19. He scored the Clarets’ vital second goal in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea last week, equalising so that his team took a vital point from the game. As well as his 11 goals, Barnes has also contributed two assists to the Clarets’ cause. His striking partnership with Chris Wood remains one of Burnley’s biggest assets.
Manchester City’s Argentine striker Sergio Aguero has scored eight goals in his last seven meetings with Burnley in all competitions. That means that the Clarets defence needs to keep a close eye on him this Sunday. Aguero is his team’s top scorer in the Premier League, having scored 19 goals in 30 Premier League appearances in 2018/19. He has also contributed eight assists to his team’s cause in the Premier League this season.
