Premier League: Another 5-0 for Manchester City?

Burnley vs Manchester City

Ask any Clarets fan and they’ll tell you that Premier League: Burnley vs Manchester City is the one game in the season in which they can graciously accept defeat, and a big one at that!

The Sky Blues have won their last seven meetings with Burnley, four of those by a 5-0 score-line, and the way Pep Guardiola’s side is playing at the moment you wouldn’t rule out another five-star performance. Sean Dyche’s team is usually so hard to break down but Manchester City just have the extra bit of quality to breach the Clarets’ granite-like defence, seemingly at will.

The hosts come into this game on the back of a 2-0 loss to Chelsea while City have won 12 on the bounce. The Burnley vs Manchester City betting odds are leaning towards a narrower victory this time, something around 0-2; but then they always do!

Talking Points

Takeover won’t change Burnley’s character

Burnley has been a peculiar member of England’s football elite in that, until late in December, the club was owned by local businessmen, each with a relatively small investment. Dyche has worked miracles to keep his side in the top flight, with two top-ten finishes in the last three campaigns, and spending just £1m in the summer transfer window.

So a takeover by US-based investment group, ALK, raised eyebrows in the league; as there may be more money for Dyche to spend, though not necessarily straight away. Incoming chairman Alan Pace has gone on a media charm offensive, saying that the New Yorkers bought into Burnley because they were impressed by the passion and community spirit at the club, and plan to increase revenues while making the Clarets ‘everybody’s favourite underdog.’

Following a difficult start to the season, when Dyche’s injury-ravaged squad won just a single point from the opening six games, key players have returned to fitness and the Clarets have picked up 21 points from the following 14 games and are looking upwards again, having built an eight-point cushion above the drop zone. A victory over Liverpool at Anfield two weeks ago was followed by a convincing FA Cup win away to Fulham and then a brutal second-half fight-back to see off Aston Villa.

Sean Dyche's men are on for a challenge as they face Premier League leaders Manchester City — Burnley coach Sean Dyche during their match against Chelsea

The link-up down the left flank between fullback Charlie Taylor and wing wizard Dwight McNeil provides ammunition for Burnley’s strikers, but Taylor is struggling to shake off a hamstring injury and, without him; Sean Dyche watched his side surrender to a 2-0 loss at Chelsea on Sunday. The boss has problems up front too, where Chris Wood limped off to join his long time partner Ashley Barnes in the physio’s room, so there may be a start for Matej Vydra and Jay Rodriguez.

But all eyes will be on Burnley’s much-admired defensive trio of goalie Nick Pope and centre-backs Ben Mee and James Tarkowski.

Sky Blues sensational squad

The absence of players like Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero would weaken most teams but Pep Guardiola has such an array of riches to call upon his team still keeps on winning. City had a tough battle to beat bottom club Sheffield United on Saturday, Gabriel Jesus’ ninth-minute strike separating the two teams, and the boss praised his team’s fighting qualities, which will come in handy at Turf Moor.

De Bruyne is likely to be out for a month, though Aguero is back in training, and with the likes of Bernardo Silva, top scorer Ilkay Gundogan (seven goals), and Phil Foden all in form City have plenty of firepower; while at the back the recruitment of Portuguese centre-back Ruben Diaz from Benfica looks to have solved the club’s defensive problems. They have conceded just one goal in the last eight league games.

Liverpool’s victory over West Ham on Sunday will keep City on their toes and they won’t be taking Burnley for granted, despite their track record against the Clarets.

History

The recent Burnley vs Manchester City results have a depressingly familiar ring for Burnley fans who have seen their team earn a solitary win over the Sky Blues this century, while losing 14 and drawing just three.

The last meeting between the two sides at Turf Moor resulted in; you’ve guessed it… a 5-0 victory for the Sky Blues, as Riyad Mahrez helped himself to a hat-trick.

The Clarets are in decent form, with three wins from the last six, but Manchester City’s 12 match winning sequence in all competitions, and 19 game unbeaten run, rather overshadow Burnley’s battling achievements.

Betting Tip

	Burnley vs Manchester City	Correct Score 0-2 @ 5.60
	February 4, 2:00 (GMT+8)

The hosts are way out at SBOTOP odds of 11.10 to derail the Sky Blues, while Pep Guardiola’s team is at 1.20 to continue their impressive run. The draw is at 6.00 and surely that is the best the hosts can realistically hope for.

The 5-0 trend surely can’t go on forever…can it? Well on their last away trip City walloped West Brom by that score-line, but I don’t expect Burnley to concede so freely again.