Burnley host defending champions, Manchester City at Turf Moor in the 2023-24 Premier League season opener.
Vincent Kompany’s Clarets are making their return to the top-flight after just one season in the Championship, whilst Pep Guardiola’s Man City seek to start their title defence with a win.
Team News
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(Image credit: Mike Egerton/PA)Michael Obafemi is ruled out for Burnley as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in June, during Republic of Ireland’s win over Gibraltar.
James Trafford, Dara O’Shea, Sander Berge, Zeki Amdouni and Nathan Redmond are amongst various new signings looking for their first competitve start for Burnley.
Man City could hand new signing, Josko Gvardiol his first start after he was ineligible to feature in their FA Community Shield loss to Arsenal last weekend.
Nathan Ake (fatigue) is also set to be available for selection.
When is Kick-Off?
Burnley host Man City at Turf Moor in a 8pm BST kick-off on Friday 11 August, live on Sky Sports and Sky Showcase in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Burnley have claimed only one point in their last 12 league meetings against Man City (D1, L11).
- Man City are unbeaten in their last six league visits to Burnley (W5, D1).
- City’s Kevin De Bruyne has scored in each of his last two league appearances against Burnley (W2).
- Burnley are unbeaten in three of their last five opening weekend fixtures (W2, D1, L2).
- Man City have won six of seven opening weekend fixtures under Pep Guardiola (W6, L1).
Prediction
Although this is a difficult opening match for Burnley, Vincent Kompany will be relieved that it is at home in front of a packed home crowd but he and his Clarets will have to be more defensively disciplined than they were at City in the FA Cup last season.
City though have adequately replaced Ilkay Gundogan with Mateo Kovacic but their performance against Arsenal was pretty sluggish yet clinical, although losing on penalties will only motivate them to make a winning start here.
Burnley however can’t play any worse against City than they have often done in the league in recent seasons, but I just don’t see them getting anything here although they should avoid another defensive demolition because lessons hopefully have been learned from that trip to the Etihad Stadium.
Prediction: Burnley 0-3 Manchester City
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