Manchester City vs Burnley: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Published at :January 29, 2024 at 1:15 PM

Modified at :January 29, 2024 at 1:16 PM

The Cityzens have the chance to reduce the gap at the top of the table by two points

Manchester City, currently in second place, enter the match riding a 10-game unbeaten streak across various competitions. In this impressive run, they have secured nine victories and one draw against Crystal Palace in December. Known for their tendency to excel towards the end of the season, Pep Guardiola’s squad, given their current form, is poised for another strong finish. In their recent FA Cup 4th Round encounter, they narrowly defeated Tottenham 1-0, advancing to the next round.

In contrast, Burnley finds themselves second from the bottom in the league standings with only 12 points from 21 games. Struggling to adapt to the Premier League’s demands, they face a looming risk of relegation by season’s end. With just two wins in their last 10 matches, accompanied by six losses and two draws, Burnley is unlikely to pose a significant threat against City. Despite their challenges, they have managed to score only five times in their last five games and will aim to replicate that feat in the upcoming match.

Kick-Off:

Thursday, 1 February 2024 at 07:30 PM GMT (01:00 AM IST)

Location: Etihad Stadium

Form

Manchester City (all competitions): W-W-W-W-W

Burnley (all competitions): W-L-L-L-D

Players to watch

Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

In the absence of leading goal-scorer Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez has capably filled the void for the prominent Norwegian. With 12 goal contributions in the current Premier League season, the Argentine has played a crucial role in maintaining City’s competitiveness. Across 31 appearances this season, Alvarez has notched 13 goals and contributed 10 assists. His proactive approach to the game, demonstrated by his consistent involvement, poses a significant threat for Burnley.

Zeki Amdouni (Burnley)

The focus will be on striker Zeki Amdouni as they confront one of the most formidable defenses of the past five years. The young talent is expected to encounter scarce opportunities and must exhibit clinical precision when presented to him against Manchester City. Amdouni has accumulated 4 goals and one assist this season, consistently featuring almost every game. His objective is to substantially increase this tally by the end of the season, with the hope of playing a pivotal role in rescuing Burnley from relegation.

Match facts:

Manchester City have won 16 of their last 17 meetings against Burnley in all competitions.
Burnley are winless 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.

Injury & Team News

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen remains sidelined post his knee surgery in June 2023, without a specified return date. Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji may return to the squad after missing a few games, while Ederson is set to reclaim his spot in the starting XI after overcoming knee issues. With a five-point gap behind leaders Liverpool, Guardiola is expected to deploy his strongest XI, possibly including Kevin De Bruyne for his first start in a while.

Nineteen-year-old winger Luca Koleosho is Burnley’s sole sidelined player with an injury since December, and he is anticipated to return to action in a couple of months. Manager Vincent Kompany plans to field his full-strength XI, aiming to provide a challenging match for Manchester City.

Head to Head

Total Matches – 111

Manchester City – 56

Burnley – 30

Draws – 25

Predicted Lineup:

Manchester City predicted lineup

Ederson; Gvardiol, Dias, Ake, Walker; Rodri, Mateo Kovacic; Silva, De Bruyne, Doku; Alvarez

Burnley predicted lineup

Trafford; Al-Dakhil, Ekdal, O’Shea, Vitinho; Odobert, Brownhill, Cullen, Gudmundsson; Foster, Amdouni

Match prediction for Manchester City vs Burnley

The Cityzens have clearly asserted their dominance in the last five encounters against Burnley, scoring 14 goals and maintaining a clean sheet. The Clarets haven’t secured a point against City since 2018 when they drew 1-1 at Turf Moor. It is anticipated that Guardiola’s team will persist in their trend of supremacy and secure another significant victory. The return of City’s players could be viewed as an opportunity to regain full match fitness.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Burnley

Telecast

India – Star Sports, Disney+ Hotstar

UK – Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon Prime Video

US – NBC, USA Network, Peacock

Nigeria – DSTV, Gotv, Star Times, Kwese TV

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