MANCHESTER CITY 5, BURNLEY 0
It was definitely a good news day for Manchester City as Kevin De Bruyne made his long awaited return from a two month injury lay-off during a routine 5-0 win over Burnley.
Joe Hart made a popular return to his former club but despite three great saves he could not stop City from thrashing the Clarets comfortably.
Goals by Sergio Aguero (17), Bernardo Silva (54), Fernandinho (56), Riyad Mahrez (83), and Leroy Sane (90) went unanswered as Burnley didn’t muster a shot on target in an easy afternoon for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The result meant that City re-affirmed their place at the top of the Premier League, having maintained their 100% home record this season.
Player Ratings – Manchester City 5, Burnley 0
Ederson: 6. Not much to do in goal, he was protected well by his defenders.
John Stones: 6. Unambitious, played out of position at right back. Played one pass out of play under the steely gaze of Pep Guardiola as his concentration slipped at times. Last ditch block to deny Jeff Hendrick’s shot as Burnley struggled to create a chance.
Vincent Kompany: 7. Booked early. Physical contest with Sam Vokes.
Aymeric Laporte: 7. Little trouble down the left side, involved more in the build-up.
Benjamin Mendy: 7. Crossing from the left was good when he went up, teed up a shooting opportunity for Riyad Mahrez which was blocked. Hurt after acrobatic foul on Sam Vokes but provided the cross for Leroy Sane’s goal.
Fernandinho: 9. Superb. Rarely challenged in the centre of midfield, still a passing fulcrum when needed, and his second half rocket from outside the box made the game safe before he laid the ball off to Riyad Mahrez at the end of a sumptuous City attack.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Quietly patrolled the midfield lending his support when needed in defence or attack. His cross for David Silva could have provided City’s second goal but for a great one handed save by Joe Hart. He swept home City’s second goal after Burnley had switched off following a penalty appeal by City.
David Silva: 8. The magician produced more intricate passing to unlock Burnley but he was the most aware person on the pitch when he cut the active ball back to Bernardo Silva after Leroy Sane’s penalty appeal had been turned down.
Riyad Mahrez: 9. Put his Anfield penalty misery behind him. Good crosses to challenge the Burnley defence from the right side. Had a shot blocked and scored an excellent goal late on to top off a brilliant passing move by City.
Sergio Aguero: 7. Denied by Joe Hart early on, he sidefooted home past Joe Hart to score his 9th of the season – 7 in 7 against Burnley in all competitions.
Leroy Sane: 8. An ever-present danger for Burnley down the left flank. Started the attack that led to Aguero’s goal and his second half penalty appeal led to the chaos that ended with a crucial second goal for City.
Kevin De Bruyne (on for Bernardo Silva 58): 6. His passing radar is still on, laid on a chance for Mahrez which he shot tamely at Hart.
Gabriel Jesus (for Sergio Aguero 66): 6. Still struggling to find a confident finish.
Phil Foden (for David Silva 74): 6. slotted in well, his cross floated over to Gabriel Jesus deserved a better finish
GOALS – Manchester City 4, Burnley 0
Man City 1, Burnley 0: 17. Leroy Sane slipped the ball to David Silva whose square pass to Sergio Aguero was sidefooted home from 7 yards out part Joe Hart.
Man City 2, Burnley 0: 54. Leroy Sane penalty shout wasn’t given but Burnley stopped playing. David Silva reacted first, cutting the loose ball back to Bernardo Silva who curled the ball into the net
Man City 3, Burnley 0: 56. Fernandinho ran onto a half cleared ball by Matt Lowton from a City corner and blasted it into the net from 20 yards out.
Man City 4, Burnley 0: 83. Riyad Mahrez nets as City players start to queue up for the ball – Fernandinho laid off the ball to the Algerian who cut inside and curled it past an unsighted Hart.
Man City 5, Burnley 0: 90. Leroy Sane was at hand to tap in Benjamin Mendy’s left wing cross from 7 yards.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 4, Burnley 0
Man City: Ederson, Stones, Kompany, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva (De Bruyne 58), David Silva (Foden 74), Mahrez, Aguero (Jesus 66), Sane
Man City Subs not used: Muric, Sterling, Otamendi, Zinchenko
Booked: Kompany 1, Sane 81
Goals: Aguero 17, Bernardo Silva 54, Fernandinho 56, Mahrez 83, Sane 90
Burnley: Hart, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Berg Gudmundsson, Defour (Barnes 75), Cork, Lennon (Westwood 69), Hendrick, Vokes (Wood 69)
Burnley Subs not used: Heaton, Bardsley, Vydra, Long
Booked: Cork 11, Hendrick 32