Manchester City responded to momentarily dropping prime spot within the Premier League by returning to the summit courtesy of a 2-0 win at Burnley.
Liverpool cranked up the strain on Metropolis with a 2-0 win over Watford in Saturday’s early kickoff however Metropolis took simply 5 minutes to search out their stride at Turf Moor, with Kevin De Bruyne opening the scoring. Ilkay Gundogan‘s volley made it 2-0 on 25 minutes and with that, Metropolis ensured they ended the day the place they started it — prime of the league.
Guardiola’s champions face a season-defining showdown with Jurgen Klopp’s contenders subsequent week on the Etihad however the Metropolis boss stated earlier than the journey to Burnley that his sole focus was on Saturday’s match.
Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola stated: “The next Premier League game we will play against Liverpool so we know they are going to win almost all the games — hopefully not the next one — but we will try to do the same. It’s Atletico Madrid next, then Liverpool.
“When Raheem Sterling comes again from the nationwide crew he is filled with confidence. The numbers…and he’s by no means injured, like Riyad Mahrez, so that they play persistently.
“People say experience when you are old but it works when you get good lessons and you learn from them. What you have done in the past doesn’t mean it will happen again. Every game will be like this. We need to play these games with this target and we will try.”
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Guardiola’s crew took cost early on with De Bruyne grabbing his twelfth aim of the season. Joao Cancelo, Rodri and Raheem Sterling have been all concerned within the build-up and De Bruyne smashed house to present his aspect an essential early benefit.
Sterling induced the house aspect all kinds of issues and nearly made it 2-0 quickly after however he was denied by Burnley keeper Nick Pope. Metropolis have been on prime and Rodri was the newest to go shut, skewing a volley broad when he ought to have completed higher. The guests doubled their lead quickly after although with an excellent crew transfer that concerned De Bruyne and the spectacular Sterling. The England worldwide floated a ball over to Gundogan and he cushioned in a advantageous end to place Metropolis in management.
Rodri hit one over and Pope made save from Gundogan as Metropolis began the second half as sturdy as they began the primary, earlier than Guardiola took off Phil Foden for Gabriel Jesus.
Metropolis, chasing a Treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday and the second half at Burnley was extra an train in vitality preservation than the rest.
Sterling, one in all Metropolis’s excellent performers together with Rodri, discovered sub Jesus however he couldn’t end off and the Brazil worldwide bought even nearer when he then struck the put up.
Burnley, nineteenth within the desk and 4 factors off security, face a essential match towards Everton subsequent week within the battle to remain within the Premier League, whereas Metropolis’s focus turns to Europe earlier than subsequent Sunday’s showdown with Liverpool.
Gundogan stated: “It’s always tough to come here against a tough and physical side. They have a certain type of playing, we needed to be prepared for long balls to their tall striker and it’s about winning second balls and trying to create chances and scoring. Obviously the two goals in the first half helped us a lot.
“The subsequent two to 3 weeks will likely be decisive however each sport seems like a remaining now to be sincere. That is why it was crucial to win immediately. You may’t drop factors in any other case it will likely be punished.”
