Man City vs Burnley: Match preview, Betting tips and Predictions

Man City vs Burnley: Match preview, Betting tips and Predictions - City primed to pick form against Clarets

City players strolling out with their heads dropped after a disastrous outing against Leicester in the premier league. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Manchester City vs Burnley
Etihad
4:00pm

Whatever it is that Pep Guardiola needs to do to halt the rot and get Manchester City back to the top and make them fearsome as always must be done, starting from this home game against Burnley.

Manchester City went to Spurs last weekend on the back of Pep Guardiola’s new contract at the Etihad but it didn’t end well; a very quick Heung Min Son goal and Giovanni Lo Celso’s effort just 35 seconds after coming on in the second half handed City their second defeat of the season.

Burnley recorded their first win of the season with a 1-0 success over Crystal Palace on Monday with Chris Wood smashing home after neat work from Jay Rodriguez.

The win lifted Burnley out of the woods and that is one hell of a welcome development. Sean Dyches and Co can be thankful because the teams below them have all failed to shine this season, one win in nine shouldn’t be above the drop zone under normal circumstances.

Manchester City can spark back to life here, they indeed have been colorless and the lack of fitness to Sergio Aguero remains a solid part of their problems. Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling have both tried in vain to lead the line but a return to form for the Argentine will ease pressure on Guardiola.

How will they line up? Burnley will definitely set up here to defend, they won’t see the ball for more than 30% of the time if Manchester City turn in their real element but they can be effective with the little opportunity they will have on the break with McGinn and Jay Rodriguez running behind the City defense.

Manchester City will dominate this one but how many of their chances will they take? Against Tottenham last weekend, they created lots of chances but couldn’t really test Hugo Lloris more than twice for the entirety of the game.

Manchester City have qualified for the round of 16 in the champions league; they can really focus on their league form now and maintain a balance that will become the platform to fly.