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Manchester City ended their insignificant return of goals to the Premier League in style. After scoring just 10 in eight previous games, this was Pep Guardiola’s team at its best.
Riyad Mahrez was the star’s turn with a hat-trick completed in the 69th minute, his header created by Phil Foden’s ingenious dink, the youngster had only entered moments before. With Liverpool losing two points earlier in the day, the victory closes City six points behind the champions, having played one game less.
Despite starring against Olympiakos, Foden started as a substitute, alongside Raheem Sterling, while Sergio Agüero was not at 18 as City welcomed visitors who were unable to look at recent history for a boost. Guardiola’s team had beaten Burnley 15-0 in their last three outings here and today City only needed six minutes to open the process.
A loose pass from James Tarkowski that went to Rodri was punished when the latter fed Ferran Torres. Suddenly City came in as Kevin De Bruyne passed possession to Mahrez and his left-footed shot past Bailey Peacock-Farrell was accurate as a slide rule.
After a failed clearance by Rúben Dias who did not take advantage of a corner, the Clarets were again in disorder. Once again, City moved through them with ease. Benjamin Mendy turned the ball on the field to Ilkay Gündogan, the German’s chip eliminated Burnley’s rear, and there was Mahrez although his header did not find Gabriel Jesus.
This year’s City often have a quasi-additional retention player operating slightly ahead of Rodri, the dedicated man at the position. This afternoon it was Gündogan. And while the ploy may slow City down a fraction, the midfield gets more muscular and that’s how Sean Dyche’s team was being dominated in this area.
If Burnley’s manager had to solve this puzzle, he would not be able to legislate on self-inflicted injuries, as happened again. This time Charlie Taylor missed an innocuous pitch from Kyle Walker aimed at Mahrez. It meant the classy Algerian was in and a slide down the area heralded a precise shot from the right post by Peacock-Farrell for City’s second.
Moments later, Torres had a shot scored for offside after the ball hit him through Jesus. If this was a relief to Burnley, City’s dominance continued. Mendy claimed 50-50, Jesus dropped deep to join in, and De Bruyne investigated. Guardiola was less satisfied with Dias when the center-back conceded a foul: three times he yelled “Rubén!” and three times the Portuguese chose to ignore his coach.
However, City’s third only brought joy. The incomparable De Bruyne launched a cross from the right towards Mendy at the far post and the Frenchman volleyed home magnificently for the first time for the club. The period ended with Jesus skidding on Ben Mee and letting it fly from a tight angle – he missed but City was in cruise control.
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Dias started the second half with another mistake by giving the ball, although after Ashley Westwood deflected, Guardiola this time stayed calm. Then came a sweet move: Mendy, De Bruyne and Torres exchanged passes before the last one went to Mahrez. He twirled his wand with one left foot across the ball, but it went.
One moment summed up just how superior the home team was: De Bruyne found himself halfway down the left and, seemingly wearing nothing, decided to drop a shoulder and take off in a surge that brought him clear and close to the Burnley area. the Belgian scattering his opponents around him.
Even so, Dyche’s men were still unwilling to drop heads. Jay Rodriguez forced a first save from Ederson and when the ball broke, a high boot from Jesus fouled Ashley Westwood and the visitors had a free kick as D. Josh Benson hit him and swerved off the wall for a corner with Ederson stranded.
City’s room derived from a flashing sequence. Fernandinho, substituting for Rodri at halftime, fed Mahrez down the right, passed an overlapping Walker, his ball was expertly controlled and transmitted by Jesús to Torres, and beat Peacock-Farrell. Now Foden replaced the Spanish and soon the fifth was produced.
