Burnley v Man City preview: Champions look to narrow gap to Chelsea

Manchester City have the chance to put pressure on leaders Chelsea when they travel to Burnley on Saturday Night Football.

As Chelsea do not play until Sunday, Manuel Pellegrini’s men can narrow the gap to two points with victory at Turf Moor.

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However, with the relegation-threatened Clarets in need of a vital three points, it will not be plain sailing for the reigning champions, who were held to a 2-2 draw at the Etihad in the last meeting between the sides.

Sean Dyche’s team have won plenty of admirers for their never-say-die attitude and have also taken points off Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham this season.

Team news

City captain Vincent Kompany will hope to be recalled for the trip across Lancashire.

The Belgium defender was dropped for City's last game against Leicester after a spell of indifferent form, while midfielders Fernandinho and Samir Nasri also missed out.

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Striker Wilfried Bony will hope to retain his spot after a first start for the club in the victory over the Foxes, as Pellegrini chooses from a fully-fit squad.

Neither Matt Taylor nor new signing Fredrik Ulvestad will be in the Burnley squad for Saturday's game.

Taylor has played twice for the development squad as he continues his slow recovery from Achilles surgery but is not yet ready for the first-team squad.

Norwegian midfielder Ulvestad is seen more as a player for the long term after signing a three-year deal this week. 

Opta facts

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There have been 45 goals scored in the last nine matches between Burnley and Manchester City in all competitions.

City are unbeaten in their last six visits to Turf Moor in all competitions, winning the last five and scoring 17 times in the last four.

In the last 68 league matches where Man City have been two goals ahead at any stage, Burnley are the only team to come back to get any kind of a result when they drew 2-2 at the Etihad back in December.

The Clarets have scored just 13 goals in 14 Premier League home games this season.

Manchester City have lost just three of their last 27 Premier League away games (W17 D7 L3).

No home team has stopped Manchester City from scoring in their last 20 Premier League away matches.

Pellegrini's men have fired in 469 shots (inc. blocked) this season, the most in the Premier League.

Manchester City are two goals shy of their 1,000th in the Premier League.

Merson's prediction

It’s a good time to play Man City before they go to Barcelona but I can’t see how Burnley are going to live with them. They have a right go, do Burnley, but they just can’t defend properly. They are always in games and rarely sit back but with Man City’s class I can see an away win. It sounds an easy win on paper but I don’t expect it to be easy.

MERSE PREDICTS: 1-3

Betting

Manchester City are 4/9 to avoid another slip-up in their title defence, with Burnley 11/2 to boost their survival hopes with a win and 7/2 to secure a draw. Manuel Pellegrini’s men are 7/1 to retain the trophy as they sit five points adrift of Chelsea, having played an extra game, while their hosts are considered 2/7 favourites to be relegated. Sergio Aguero heads the first goalscorer betting at 100/30 and is 11/8 joint favourite to be Premier League’s top goalscorer, while Danny Ings is 9/1 to break the deadlock for the visitors.

Watch Burnley's clash with Man City in the Saturday Night Football live on Sky Sports 1HD from 4:45pm