Manchester City will look to move to the top of the Premier League table on Wednesday night as they travel to Turf Moor to take on a Burnley side all but relegated.
Manchester City came out on top in their top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad against leaders Arsenal on Sunday, defeating the Gunners 2-1 – on an afternoon when I backed City to Win at 5/6.
That result has moved Pep Guardiola’s men within three points of the Gunners, and know a win at Turf Moor on Wednesday will see them leapfrog Mikel Arteta’s men to the top of the table.
Burnley’s immediate return to the Championship edged closer on Sunday, as they were beaten 4-1 at the City Ground by Nottingham Forest, on an afternoon in which I landed a 5/6 winner.
Scott Parker’s hosts have now picked up a solitary point from their last six Premier League outings (W0-D1-L6) – as well as winning just one of their past 24 league matches (W1-D7-L16) – leaving them 12 points adrift of safety with just five games to play.
How the bookies view it: City clear favourites
Unsurprisingly, Manchester City are short-priced favourites to claim all three points here, with an away win priced at just 1/7 at bet365.
Burnley are massive 16/1 underdogs to claim a rare three points, whilst the draw is also unfancied, paying 7/1.
Head to head: City dominance
Manchester City are unbeaten in each of their previous 19 meetings with Burnley (W18-D1-L0), winning each of the last 14.
You have to go back to 2015 for Burnley’s last success over the Cityzens, with a George Boyd strike sealing a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor.
Players to watch: Nico to deliver again?
We were unfortunate on Sunday with Nico O’Reilly not being credited with an assist for Manchester City’s second goal, after Erling Haaland finished his pull back.
The England international has scored six goals and provided an assist across his 11 appearances in all competitions for the Cityzens – including the opener at Stamford Bridge in Manchester City’s last away trip – and looks good value at 6/4 at bet365 to Score or Assist on Wednesday.
Predicted line-ups:
Burnley are expected to be missing the injured Axel Tuanzebe, Connor Roberts, Jordan Beyer, Josh Cullen, Hannibal and Zeki Amdouni.
Manchester City will still be without the injured Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, whilst Rodri is a doubt.
Burnley: Dubravka, Walker, Esteve, Ekdal, Hartman, Ward-Prowse, Luis, Ugochukwu, Edwards, Anthony, Flemming
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly, Gonzalez, Silva, Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Anything else catch the eye?
Manchester City appear to be hitting form just at the right time, and they should have little trouble claiming a fifth consecutive win in all competitions against a Burnley side that is destined for the Championship.
The Cityzens have conceded just once across those four successive wins, and an away win to nil pays 10/11 at PaddyPower which appeals.
What’s more Pep Guardiola’s visitors have won on each of their last six visits to Turf Moor, keeping clean sheets in five (83%) of those victories.
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