Burnley 1-4 Manchester City
As long as it is mathematically possible, reigning champions Manchester City will not give up in their quest for a third successive Premier League title.
The SBOBET Premier League betting odds may make that unlikely – even the mega-rich champs’ ability to produce an assortment of Premier League highlights may not be enough this time around – but one thing is a given, City will not give up.
It’s not in their DNA.
After being twice pegged back at Newcastle at the weekend, a game they would normally have won (although not last season ironically), all the pressure was on City as they travelled across the Lancashire foothills to Burnley.
The Clarets against the Citizens. Minnows against Giants but Burnley have given a bloody nose to teams of great stature before. This time, though, the gulf in class mirrored that of the club’s respective resources as City produced a thoroughly professional showing.
Highlights of the game
Had Gabriel Jesus (in for the injured Sergio Aguero (thigh) not been denied an early opener – the Brazilian was in an offside position as he turned an Angelino volley with a clever backheel – Burnley may have been disheartened.
But the correct decision was made and there was to be no early breakthrough for a side which only dropped points in six matches throughout last season but have lost them in five already in 2019/20.
Pep Guardiola’s credentials as a manager are not in question but, even now, in the first week of December, his failure to replace influential skipper Vincent Kompany, coupled with the loss of their other world-class centre back, Aymeric Laporte, has proven costly.
It is also meant Fernandinho, the unsung hero who has kept them ticking so much in recent years, has had to move back into defence and, while the Brazilian has fared well, his replacement Rhodri naturally needs time to settle into English football.
He was up against a Burnley debutant who knows what it’s like at the sharp end of English football, Man Utd-schooled and a title winner with Leicester City in 2016, Danny Drinkwater.
He would have begrudgingly admired the strike which broke the deadlock after 24 minutes.
Play was waved on as Kevin de Bruyne went down injured and Jesus brought the ball to left of the area and curled a quite superb strike beyond Nick Pope. A world class finish.
The knee of Pope and then his foot kept out Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva shortly afterwards to ensure the hosts did not have a higher mountain to climb against a side they have defeated only once in their past 22 meetings in all competitions and none since a 1-0 home victory in March 2015.
Burnley had to weather the storm without conceding again and try and create an opportunity for Chris Wood (14 Premier League goals in 2019). He and substitute Ashley Barnes (15) are hoping to become the first Clarets player to score more than 15 top-flight goals in a calendar year since Peter Noble (17 in 1975) and Leighton James (16 in 1974).
Despite a spirited showing, Wood – with six goals in his past eight top-flight games – was largely isolated and the contest was all but over five minutes after the restart.
Bernardo Silva delivered a cross from the right and Jesus expertly crashed home a volley from close range.
Two soon became three when David Silva’s shot was charged down and came out to Rodri who sweetly struck the ball back with interest into the roof of the net.
There was still time for substitute Riyad Mahrez to net his 50th Premier League goal with another gem of a finish before Robbie Brady netted a consolation.
With such an amount of wealth in the English game nowadays, it is not inconceivable that the roles are reversed this season as league leaders Liverpool end their title drought and City go on to be crowned champions of Europe, something they have craved since their 2008 takeover.
Guardiola hasn’t given up domestically though – Manchester City will ‘fight until the last day’, he is adamant.
Performances like this show he may have a point.
Key statistics
This was Jesus’ first goal in 10 appearances (for club and country).
He has scored eight goals in his last nine starts away from home in the Premier League, including five goals in five away starts this season.
He is also now the third-highest Brazilian goalscorer in the annals of the Premier League.
Mahrez’s 50th Premier League goal matches a feat accomplished by Paulo Wanchope, Danny Murphy and Mark Bright.
City have scored in 19 successive Premier League away fixtures, their second longest streak in the division.
Burnley’s solitary victory in the last 27 league fixtures against established top-six opposition came against Spurs in February.
Burnley have lost five of their past seven Premier League games, yet their points tally is double what they had at this stage 12 months ago.
What’s next?
Burnley are on the road next and head to London this weekend to face a Spurs side who seem to have rediscovered their mojo under Jose Mourinho.
It’s a big one for City – United are at the Etihad for the first Manchester derby of the season.
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