MAN CITY 3, BURNLEY 0
Days don’t get much better for Manchester City after they beat Burnley to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League following the shock defeat of their neighbours and title rivals at Huddersfield Town.
It was also the afternoon Sergio Aguero scored his 177th goal for City to draw level with all-time leading marksman Eric Brook.
And City’s 11th straight win in all competitions also equalled a club record with club legend Mike Summerbee saying the football the team is playing reminds him of the great Hungarian team of the 1950s after they had been likened to the present-day Barcelona.
The win was by no means the walkover the bookies had it – 25/1 for Burnley to win – as only Aguero’s penalty separated the sides in the 74th minute.
But two goals in quick succession from Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane sealed victory, the margin of which may have slightly flattered City as Burnley were superbly organised as Pep Guardiola acknowledged.
He said: “We knew it would be difficult as Burnley are physically amazing and they had a huge work ethic.
“After a Champions League game it is always complicated, both mentally and physically.
“Last year when it was 3-2 against Stoke, 2-1 against Napoli and 1-0 here, may be we were more nervous, but now we don’t have that feeling. We didn’t concede chances.”
Guardiola added that confidence was high, but was aware now quickly it can disappear.
City’s manager was also asked about the importance of being five points clear.
“In May it is significant, but not in October,” he said.
Guardiola was delighted to see Aguero, back after a three-week absence through a rib injury sustained in a car crash, equal the club’s goalscoring record.
“It was so important to equal the record and he will break it and become the leading scorer in the history of the club. We are happy for him,” he said.
City made two changes from the side that started against Napoli in the Champions League in midweek.
Aguero and Bernardo Silva were preferred to Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.
It was clear from the start that this would be no walkover as Burnley were well organised with two banks of four in defence and midfield.
City managed only one clear-cut chance in the opening quarter of an hour, but Kevin De Bruyne’s weak shot was easily saved.
Burnley had a chance to steal ahead when Chris Wood raced on to a long clearance and was clean through. Brazilian keeper Ederson Moraes saved at the feet of both Wood and Scott Arfield who was following up.
The Clarets were forced to make a change after only 20 minutes when Wood limped off to be replaced by Ashley Barnes.
City carved open Burnley’s defence midway through the opening half when Leroy Sane cut the ball back for Bernardo Silva whose fierce shot was fisted out by keeper Nick Pope.
The breakthrough came on the half hour when Pope brought down Bernardo Silva having moments earlier done well to deny De Bruyne who was through on goal.
Burnley claimed it was a dive and in the resulting skirmish James Tarkowski and Sane were booked before Aguero stepped up to send Pope the wrong way to equal Eric Brook’s club record of 177 goals. It was his eighth of the season.
City were almost punished after losing possession playing the ball out of defence but Scott Arfield’s shot deflected off Fernandinho and looped narrowly wise,
Aguero, eying the outright scoring record, was twice denied by the legs of Pop as he drilled in fierce angled shots.
City, who had 80-per-cent possession in the opening period, again dominated territorially after the restart, but just couldn’t create chances as Burnley defended resolutely.
They had to wait until the 74th minute before scoring their second when Otamendi’s header from Sane’s corner squeezed past Steven Defour who was covering on the line. It was his second of the season.
Barely one minute later it was 3-0 when Kevin De Bruyne released Sane on the left and he drilled a low shot into the far corner, his fifth goal of the campaign.
City made their first change when Jesus replaced Aguero and a second and third quickly followed as Yaya Toure and Ilkay Gundogan came on for Fernandinho and De Bruyne.
City might have won by a wider margin as late in the game Jesus and Sane were unable to finish decent chances, but they weren’t complaining after making in an 11th straight win in all competitions.