Manchester City vs Burnley preview, details, team news, line-ups and prediction

Manchester City will aim to reduce the gap with first-placed Liverpool to just two points when they host former player, Vincent Kompany as he leads his Burnley team at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Manchester City, currently occupying the second position, head into the upcoming match with a formidable 10-game unbeaten streak spanning various competitions. During this remarkable stretch, they have notched nine wins and one draw against Crystal Palace in December.

Renowned for their ability to peak towards the latter stages of the season, Pep Guardiola’s team appears primed for another robust finish. In their recent FA Cup 4th Round clash, they narrowly edged past Tottenham with a 1-0 victory, securing progression to the subsequent round courtesy of Nathan Ake’s goal.

On the other hand, Burnley currently reside second from the bottom in the league standings, having accumulated only 12 points from 21 games. Grappling with the rigours of the Premier League, they confront the imminent threat of relegation as the season progresses. With just two victories in their last 10 matches, coupled with six defeats and two draws, Burnley face an uphill battle to pose a substantial challenge against City. Despite their struggles, they have managed to find the back of the net only five times in their last five games and will aspire to replicate that achievement in the forthcoming match.

Manchester City are in pursuit of a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title—a feat unprecedented in English top-flight history for a men’s club. However, their quest is not without challenges. Pep Guardiola’s side currently sits second in the table, trailing leaders Liverpool by five points, albeit with a game in hand. Following a brief period of struggle, Manchester City appear to have regained momentum, securing victories in four of their last five league matches, including three successive wins post-Christmas.

Burnley, on the other hand, find themselves embroiled in a battle at the opposite end of the Premier League table. The Clarets have managed to secure only three victories in their 21 league fixtures this season, placing them in the 19th position, trailing five points behind the safety zone.

It has been a challenging campaign in the Premier League for Vincent Kompany’s side, which cannot rely on any sentimentality from his former club. Following their third win of the season against Fulham just before Christmas, Burnley have since suffered two defeats and managed a draw, holding fellow relegation contenders Luton Town to a 1:1 draw in their most recent outing.

Manchester City v Burnley match details 

Location: Manchester, England

Stadium: Etihad Stadium

Date: Wednesday 31 January 2024

Kick-off time: 07:30 PM GMT (01:00 AM IST)

Referee: Sam Barrott.

Assistant referees: Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan

Fourth Official: Darren England.

VAR: Rob Jones

Tickets: Fans can buy Manchester City vs Burnley tickets via official club channels or through trusted resellers online.

Match stats and Head-to-Head 

•Manchester City have managed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last eight encounters against Burnley, during which

they have netted an impressive 28 goals.

•Erling Haaland has been particularly lethal against Burnley, finding the back of the net five times in just two matches against them.

•Manchester City boast an impressive home record, winning 10 out of their 13 home games across all competitions this season, with only three draws.

•Despite potential second-half dips in performance, Guardiola’s men continue to find the back of the net. Out of their 48 league goals this season, 27 have been scored in the second halves of matches. Conversely, Burnley have conceded 23 of their 42 goals in the Premier League after the break.

•Manchester City have maintained a strong hold over Burnley, winning 16 of their last 17 encounters (with one draw) since Burnley’s last victory in March 2015. Additionally, Burnley have not won in 16 top-flight away games against Manchester City.

•Manchester City have won 15 of their last 16 Premier League games against newly promoted clubs.

•After a brief rough patch, Manchester City seem to have regained momentum, securing victories in four of their last five league games, including three consecutive wins post-Christmas.

•Burnley’s league campaign have been challenging, with only three wins from their 21 games, placing them in 19th position and five points adrift of safety.

Team News 

Erling Haaland is anticipated to mark his eagerly awaited comeback from a foot injury during Manchester City’s encounter against Burnley on Wednesday evening.

The striker has been sidelined since Manchester City’s defeat away at Aston Villa in December, following a setback in his recovery process. Despite missing the recent FA Cup victory over Tottenham on Friday, Pep Guardiola has affirmed that the Norwegian international could potentially make an appearance when Vincent Kompany’s Burnley side visits the Etihad Stadium.

Nevertheless, it appears improbable that Haaland will be included in the starting lineup, given the considerable duration of his absence from competitive action.

Manuel Akanji sustained a knee issue during the FA Cup clash against Huddersfield Town on January 7, which has kept him out of action since then. However, there is a slim possibility of the defender making his comeback in this upcoming fixture.

Manchester City have seen the return of Kevin De Bruyne recently, and there are hopes that Ederson and John Stones could also be fit for selection.

On the Burnley side, Sander Berge and Aaron Ramsey were absent in their last game due to illness, but they are expected to have recovered in time for the upcoming match. However, Nathan Redmond and Luca Koleosho continue to remain sidelined due to long-term injuries.

Predicted starting line-ups 

Manchester City predicted starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Silva, Kovacic; Foden, Alvarez, Doku

Burnley predicted starting lineup: Trafford; Al-Dakhil, Ekdal, O’Shea, Vitinho; Odobert, Brownhill, Cullen, Gudmundsson; Foster, Amdouni

Prediction 

Manchester City have demonstrated their superiority in the last five meetings with Burnley, netting 14 goals and keeping clean sheets. Burnley’s last point against City dates back to 2018 when they drew 1-1 at Turf Moor.

The trend suggests that Guardiola’s side will likely continue their dominance and secure another convincing victory. The return of key players for City presents an opportunity to regain full match fitness and further strengthen their squad.