Riyad Mahrez scores a hat-trick as Manchester City overtakes Burnley in the Premier League

Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick and Manchester City returned to winning ways with another sweeping victory over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s men started matchday 14 without having scored more than once in the last six league games and without winning in the last two.

But any idea that City could be thwarted by Burnley was dashed after just six minutes when Mahrez opened the scoring after another assist from Kevin De Bruyne.

City doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when the visitors were caught taking a nap on Kyle Walker’s throw-in with Mahrez leaping into goal for his second.

Benjamin Mendy piled up more misery at Burnley when he scored his first goal for the club with a beautiful opening volley from a floating cross from De Bruyne five minutes before the break.

Ferran Torres scored his fifth goal of the season, but his first in the Premier League, to make it 4-0 in the 66th minute after a beautiful attacking play involving Walker and Gabriel Jesus.

And three minutes later, Mahrez was celebrating his hat-trick after heading down the back post off a deep pitch from substitute Phil Foden.

It was a baptism of fire for Burnley’s debutant Premier League goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who replaced the injured Nick Pope, and the 24-year-old had VAR to thank for scoring an unfortunate own goal, as City thought they had a sixth.

It means that for the fourth consecutive meeting between the teams at Etihad City they recorded a 5-0 win, a victory that places them in eighth place, three points behind the top four, while Burnley remains in 17th.

What’s Burnley got playing at the Etihad Stadium? Sean Dyche’s team has now lost the last seven meetings by a 29-2 aggregate score.

With Pep Guardiola’s men in such bad shape nationally, and with Sergio Agüero absent with a knee injury, Burnley came into this tie with the feeling that they could end their dismal record here.

But it didn’t turn out that way, as a wounded City drew all its frustrations on the struggling Clarets with a ruthless and emphatic performance to answer its critics. Even without Aguero and Raheem Sterling (left on the bench), City had too much for Burnley going forward, and almost everything Mahrez touched turned to gold.

It was a dazzling display that suggests City can regain their charm, moving them six points behind league leaders Liverpool with one game in hand.

The 29-year-old was a true lead in City’s attack, constantly gaining positions in space, and Burnley simply couldn’t handle his pace, trickery and ruthlessness.

City man: Ederson 6, Walker 7, Days 6, Piedras 6, Mendy 7, Gundogan 7, Rodrigo 6, Mahrez 9, De Bruyne 8, Torres 7, Jesús 7. Subs: Fernandinho 6, Foden 6, García 5.

Burnley: Peacock-Farrell 4, Lowton 5, Mee 4, Tarkowski 4, Taylor 5, Westwood 5, Benson 5, Rodriguez 5, Barnes 6, McNeil 5, Wood 4. Subs: Pieters 5, Otter N / A.

6 ‘- GOAL! Man City 1-0 Burnley (Riyad Mahrez): That didn’t take long! Burnley gives the ball away in midfield and City makes the most of it with a precise passing movement. De Bruyne frees Mahrez, who beats Premier League rookie Peacock-Farrell.

22 ‘- GOAL! Man City 2-0 Burnley (Riyard Mahrez): Mahrez on the double, but that’s very poor from Burnley’s point of view. The visitors are caught sleeping off a throw-in, Mahrez is wide awake to beat Taylor on the ball. He cuts and bends it at the far post.

40 ‘- GOAL! Man City 3-0 Burnley (Benjamin Mendy): A wonderful goal from Mendy puts Burnley’s hopes up! De Bruyne delivers a lovely cross to the back post and it’s a forward shot from Mendy, who volleys home with his side foot.

66 ‘- GOAL! Man City 4-0 Burnley (Ferran Torres): Torres extends City’s advantage with his fifth goal of the season! Walker tosses him across the field toward Jesus, who throws him onto Torres’s path and sweeps him home. It is his first goal in the Premier League.

69 ‘- GOAL! Man City 5-0 Burnley (Riyad Mahrez): Mahrez gets his hat-trick! Foden has an immediate impact when he is released from the left and throws the ball at the far post and all Mahrez has to do is head the ball to the back of the net.