Premier League: Expect No Mercy From The Sky Blues

Burnley vs Manchester City

Manchester City are back in Premier League action on Saturday when Pep Guardiola takes his league leaders to Turf Moor to take on relegation threatened Burnley.

Both teams are desperate for points. Second placed Liverpool have been on a superb run of form to close the gap at the top to just a single point, while the Sky Blues have stuttered a little, by their own high standards, in recent weeks. The Premier League is turning out to be one of the most exciting for SBOTOP football fans to enjoy, with nothing settled at either end of the pitch and Burnley are in the thick of it at the bottom end.

Sean Dyche’s Clarets currently sit 19^th and four points from safety; but they do have games in hand and the easiest run-in among the bottom six, on paper. They haven’t been doing so well on grass in recent weeks though, and they have 11 games to turn things around. This is the first time in their recent six seasons in the top flight that Burnley are in a survival battle; even though they finished 17^th last term the Clarets finished 11 points above 18^th placed Fulham and this time around it is sure to be much closer.

Burnley fans may be tempted to say this game is a free hit and they should take their chances in the final ten games, but Dyche and his team will believe they can win.  But the odds are stacked heavily against them and the hosts can expect no mercy at all from the Sky Blues who will be looking to their ruthless best.      

Talking Points

The reigning champions are hunting for a fourth league title in five campaigns and they are also going well in the Champions League and the FA Cup. They come into the game on the back of a thumping 4-1 FA Cup quarter final victory over Southampton as Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden were all on target.

Those players who are ripping up the Premier League too. Mahrez and Sterling are top scoring with ten goals each while De Bruyne has nine and Foden is weighing in with regular goals and assists. 

The lack of a proven striker hasn’t proved to be a problem for most of the campaign but a recent defeat to Spurs and a goalless draw with Crystal Palace have slowed the Sky Blues’ momentum and, at full strength for the visit to Turf Moor, they will be keen to stay ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.       

Mee a big doubt for Clarets  

After a decent run of Premier League 2022 results from the Clarets, they are back in the relegation mire following three consecutive defeats; to Leicester City, Chelsea and Brentford. It’s no coincidence that Burnley’s recent losses came after captain and defensive rock Ben Mee limped off at half time against Leicester City. Up to that point the Clarets had conceded three goals in seven league games, a run which included a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, a victory over Spurs and draws with Arsenal and Manchester United. With Mee off the field Burnley conceded two late goals to the Foxes, four in the second half against Chelsea and two late goals against Brentford. Young centre back

Nathan Collins picked up Burnley’s first red card of the season against the Bees so he will be unavailable to face the Sky Blues. If Mee is absent too then the Sky Blues will be licking their lips.  

England vs Ivory Coast watch

Five players were in action as England beat a disappointing Ivory Coast 3-0 on Tuesday night, three City men and two Clarets. There wasn’t much chance for either of the two Burnley stars to shine though, as the vast majority of the action unfolded at the other end of the pitch. Keeper Nick Pope collected his seventh clean sheet in his eight England internationals in a game which became attack versus defence when Ivory Coast skipper Serge Aurier was sent off. Burnley top scorer Maxwell Cornet had a lively first half for the visitors but was a spectator in the second half, as Sterling, Jack Grealish and Foden all starred for England who were disappointed to be limited to three goals.

History

Of the 20 games played this century between these two teams , Manchester City have won 16 and drawn three, Burnley having their only victory back in 2015 when George Boys scored a screamer on the hour.

When the two teams met at the Etihad in October, Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne gave the hosts a 2-0 victory.

Betting Tip

It’s little surprise that the Burnley vs Manchester City betting odds are right behind the Sky Blues at a price of 1.21 to win this game with the Clarets out at 12.52 and the draw at 5.60 City’s recent date with Crystal Palace didn’t go to plan though, and there will be a big difference in the Burnley side dependant on Mee’s fitness. So I’m backing a relatively low scoring affair with a likelihood of 2-0 to City again, at a price of 5.03.

 

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