MAN CITY 5, BURNLEY 0
Manchester City swept past Burnley to strengthen their position at the top of the Premier League.
In a one-sided contest, City scored five goals and were far too strong for the Clarets.
There were five different goalscorers, Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane in a performance that pleased Pep Guardiola.
City’s manager pointed to stats that proved their dominance, explaining they had 24 shots 10 on target and they did not concede one shot on target.
Guardiola added they are the top team in Europe for chances created, but need to improve their conversion rate.
City’s manager added there is still room for improvement, especially at the start of the game when they could have fallen behind in the opening minutes.
“It was a good performance, especially in the second half. We were solid in the way we played,” he said.
Guardiola also pointed out it was pleasing to have five different goalscorers as that eases the pressure on Aguero.
He also praised emergency right-back John Stones who switched from centre back as Kyle Walker and Danilo were injured with Guardiola adding they are short of options in this area.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche complained about key decisions going against his team.
Dyche thought Vincent Kompany ought to have been sent off after 30 seconds for a challenge that was “out of control” on Aaron Lennon and Sane towards the end for a kick at Matt Lowton.
He was also unhappy with the events that led to City’s second goal, claims of a dive by Sane while the ball had gone out of play before Silva, who had also stepped off the pitch, retrieved it.
Dyche explained: “Nothing I say remotely that we would have won the game, but we are not helped when things go against you.
“They are key moment and they affect the clarity of the performance and made it 5-0.”
City made two changes from the side that kicked off the goalless draw at Liverpool.
There were recalls for Kompany and Sane as Walker and Raheem Sterling lost out.
City also had Kevin Bruyne back after injury as he was named as a substitute.
Burnley had Belgium international Steven Defour back after injury.
There was a standing ovation before kick-off for City legend Joe Hart on his return to the Etihad.
In an eventful opening, City had Kompany booked inside 30 seconds for a foul on Aaron Lennon and from the free kick Sam Vokes headed narrowly over.
City also had an early chance when Sergio Aguero headed wide from eight yards following a Mahrez cross.
Hart made an amazing point-blank save to deny Aguero who looked odds-on to convert a cross from Mahrez.
It proved a temporary reprieve as moments later City took a 17th minute lead as Aguero slotted home a low shot from Aguero that following a delightful interchange of passes involving Sane and David Silva who provided the assist with a low cross from the left, his ninth of the season and his seventh in as many games against Burnley.
Silva almost made it 2-0 as his flick narrowly cleared the cross bar from six yards after Aguero’s initial shot was blocked.
Burnley’s best chance of the opening half came after a weaving run from Jack Cork set up Jeff Hendrick whose goalbound shot was blocked by Stones.
Hart pulled off another unbelievable save to keep out a close-range header from David Silva with Aguero firing over the rebound as the Clarets reached half time only 1-0 behind.
City doubled their lead nine minutes after the restart in controversial circumstances after they has a penalty appeal rejected following a challenge by Cork on Sane.
Burnley stopped and City played on as David Silva cut the ball back for Bernardo Silva to score his fourth of the season, though there was debate as to whether the ball had crossed the by line before Silva delivered his cross.
And within two minutes it was 3-0 when Matt Lowton headed Sane’s corner to the edge of the box where Fernandinho lashed a spectacular shot into the top corner for his first of the season.
With victory assured, Guardiola brought on De Bruyne for the last half hour as he replaced Bernardo Silva.
Hart prevented a fourth goal keeping out Aguero’s close-range shot with his legs.
City made a second change when Aguero, still troubled by a foot injury, was given a rest as he made way for Gabriel Jesus.
And their last change with 16 minutes left saw David Silva replaced by Phil Foden.
City made it 4-0 in the 83rd minute with the goal of the game.
It followed a sumptuous passing move that ended with Mahrez curling a shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
City added a fifth goal in the 90th minute when Sane found the net from seven yards for his second of the season after being set up by Benjamin Mendy’s left-wing cross with Burnley dispirited by this point.