Familiar faces go head-to-head in the opening game of the 2023/24 Premier League season as Manchester City visit Turf Moor to play Burnley.
This fixture is featuring Champions of the first tier of English football and the champions of the second division.
Pep Guardiola’s side are charged up for the new season and they will be aiming for another glorious season.
Despite the loss to Arsenal in the community shield, they still remain as favorites to lift the 2023/24 Premier League crown.
Manchester City lifted the treble – UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last term and they joined city-rivals Manchester United to become the two English teams to achieve that feat.
From a domestic treble in previous seasons to lifting the revered treble years after, Pep Guardiola has taken the Citizens to become a powerhouse in European football.
The 8-time Premier League champions seemingly do not follow the laws of diminishing returns as they press on every season; stronger, hungrier and better.
Anyway, they face a stern contest against Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, who are also looking to achieve relative success this season.
Kompany has seen the clarets fortunes change under his tutelage and they also play a different brand of football in comparison to their style under Sean Dyche.
Burnley ammased a huge 101 points and faced defeat only twice last season, including only one loss at Turf Moor.
They pumped in the most numbers of goals last season with 87 and conceded the least number of goals with 35.
Vincent Kompany’s side enjoyed a dominant season, which saw them finish 10 points ahead of second-placed Sheffield United, who also gained promotion to the top-flight.
Where would the pendulum swing? Manchester City or Burnley?
Kompany, the former Manchester City captain witness his boys face off against his gigantic former side and it definitely promises to be a great battle.
Burnley have also been busy in the transfer market making necessary reinforcements as they have signed 9 players so far this summer.
The Clarets have acquired the services of Zeki Amdouni, James Trafford, Jordan Beyer, Dara O’Shea, Michael Obafemi, Luca Koleosho, Nathan Redmond, Lawrence Vigouroux, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Sander Berge.
Kompany will be banking on these signings to deliver the goods for him during the 2023/24 season.
The journey starts on Friday, August 11, 2023, and the encounter which will kick off at 20:00 is expected to be thrilling.
The last time Burnley took on Manchester City it ended in a demolition for the Clarets at the Etihad. Kompany didn’t get the type of return he would have wanted as his side were annihilated 6-0 in the FA Cup clash.
However, Burnley fans would be hoping he has learnt lessons and positive fortune accompanies them on Friday, August 11, 2023.
Their record against Citizens isn’t encouraging as they have only won once against Manchester City.
In 18 games played between the two sides, Manchester City have won 15, Burnley have won once and both sides have shared the spoils on 2 occasions.
The Citizens have also scored 5 goals or more in 5 of their last 11 meetings with Burnley, while Burnley’s last goal against Manchester City was scored in December 2019.
That goal was in a 4-1 thumping received in the hands of Manchester City, so certainly, the form table doesn’t look bright for Burnley.
Team News for Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne is expected to feature in the game against Burnley, after he made a cameo appearance against Arsenal in the community shield.
Nathan Ake is the only doubt for Manchester City.
Erling Haaland will lead Manchester City in attack, as he also hopes to produce similar magic like he eschewed last season.
Joao Cancelo is also expected to play in this game, having feaured for Pep Guardiola’s side in preseason.
Mateo Kovacic could start in midfield, as direct replacement for IIkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona this summer.
Josko Gvardiol might also be given his first start and debut for Manchester City, in the game against Burnley.
Team News for Burnley
Burnley are expected to witness wholesale changes in their starting XI, and they will be without Obafemi as he is nursing an injury.
New signing Berge isn’t expected to feature from the get-go, although Beyer, O’Shea, Redmond and Zaroury could all play in the game.
Experienced forward Jay Rodriguez should spearhead the attack for the Clarets against Manchester City
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Beyer, O’Shea, Vitinho; Cork, Cullen; Redmond, Brownhill, Zaroury, Rodriguez
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Kovacic, Rodri, De Bruyne; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish
Prediction: Burnley 0-3 Manchester City
Despite Burnley’s impressive showing in the Championship, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish.
Manchester City would be looking to get back to winning ways after losing in the Community Shield and as such they would be determined to get a win against Burnley.
Kick Off Time: 08:00PM BST
