On Monday Manchester City host Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, with the two teams heading into this clash in very different moods.
The visitors slipped ten points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday, as the Citizens suffered a 1-0 defeat at title rivals, Liverpool. Pep Guardiola’s side are also now four points behind second-place Liverpool.
City have won their last two home games on home soil but failed to win any of their previous four home games in the league at the Etihad Stadium. Everybody connected with the club will be expecting to win this clash.
However, this game could prove trickier than expected. Burnley head into this clash on the back of a big 4-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday. Striker Andre Gray was the hero for the Clarets, with a hat-trick and the former non-league striker looks to have found form in recent weeks in the top-flight.
He will be a player that will present that shaky City backline with a difficult afternoon. The Citizens defence have failed to fully get to grips with boss Pep Guardiola’s style of play. The likes of John Stones and Aleksandar Kolarov have underperformed in the heart that City defence.
Burnley have caused many big teams problems this season and recorded a goalless draw at City’s rivals Manchester United. Their star performer that day was goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who pulled off a string of impressive saves to deny the Red Devils.
Heaton is likely to be busy once again in Manchester in this clash. Burnley are unlikely to be pushovers in this clash. The Clarets will give the Citizens a different sort of challenge to the one that Liverpool presented them with.
Manchester City are likely to come out on top in this local skirmish, but Burnley may just produce a performance that surprises everybody at the Etihad Stadium.