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Fresh from their harrowing 2-2- draw with Newcastle United last time out, Manchester City would make the trip to Lancashire to take on Burnley at Turf Moor.
Surprisingly, the Cityzens have already dropped 14 points just 14 matches into the campaign. This is just two points short of the total they dropped last season and if Pep Guardiola is to make it a three-peat in the Premier League, his wards would have to start racking up the points fast.
A chance to do that would come against a Burnley side who have been one of the tougher nuts to crack - not good enough to break into the top six but regularly acting as banana peels against the bigger teams.
The Clarets currently find themselves in 10th place and would be looking to get points against a Manchester City side that have been significantly beneath their frightening best in recent weeks.
Burnley vs Manchester City Head-To-Head
Manchester City have an impressive recent record against Sean Dyche's men, winning each of their last three fixtures by an aggregate score of 11-0.
In total, both teams have met each other 14 times, with Manchester City winning 10, while Burnley have posted just one victory. Three matches between the pair ended in a stalemate.
Burnley Form Guide: LWWLL
Manchester City Form Guide: DWLWW
Burnley v Manchester City Team News
Pep Guardiola is still without the services of defensive maestro Aymeric Laporte who has been sidelined with a knee injury since August. Winger Leroy Sane is also another long-term absentee, with the German international on the treatment table for a Cruciate Ligament rupture sustained in the Community Shield.
A recent addition to City's injury list is Sergio Aguero who pulled up with a muscle injury in the victory over Chelsea.
Injuries: Leroy Sane, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Aguero
Doubtful: Oleksandr Zinchenko
Suspensions: Raheem Sterling is one yellow card away from a suspension
Burnley vs Manchester City Predicted XI
Manchester City predicted XI (4-3-3): Ederson, Benjamin Mendy, John Stones, Fernandinho, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus
Burnley vs Manchester City Prediction
Although Manchester City have looked out-of-sorts this term, the fact that Liverpool have opened up an 11-point gap at the top means that the defending champions cannot afford any more slip-ups.
As such, they would be going all out against a Burnley side that they have had good fortune against in recent times.
The Clarets have failed to score against Manchester City in each of their last three games but they would be confident of breaching a backline that has looked shaky in the absence of Aymeric Laporte.
Guardiola has always found it difficult on each of his three trips to Turf Moor, with his two victories coming with one-goal margins, while the other fixture ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Given his side's poor form, it is unlikely that they would go gung-ho against a Burnley defence that is one of the league's most compact.
There is, however, more than enough firepower in the City ranks to ultimately get a hard-fought victory.
Verdict: Burnley 1-2 Manchester City
