Burnley 0-1 Manchester City: Erling Haaland scored after five minutes to give Pep Guardiola’s side the only goal of the game, but they were unable to press home against the Clarets.
Man City move into the top spot for the first time since August
Manchester City beat Burnley at Turf Moor to move to the top of the Premier League for the first time since the start of the season, but the Clarets were relegated in the process.
Josep Guardiola’s side knew they would go top of the table after defeating Arsenal on Sunday and taking all three points thanks to Erling Haaland’s goal in just five minutes, but the Norwegian’s goal was far from enough to break the ice.
City currently lead the table, but only by a very small margin. They are level on points with Arsenal and have the same goal difference, meaning the Manchester side are top of the table in terms of goals scored. 66 to Arsenal’s 63.
They were unable to apply pressure after the visitors went ahead thanks to Haaland’s dimpled finish. City went into the game with a lone goal lead towards the end of the first half, which would have been a disappointing result. Rayan Ait Nouri fired a shot inside the box, which also hit the post for the visitors.
Haaland’s shot hit the post again in the second half. Burnley were almost glued to their own half but held firm and the visitors’ impatience became increasingly apparent. Rayan Cherki and Savinho missed further chances.
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Guardiola would love to be in the top flight, but his lack of clinical edge and inability to improve his goal difference will be frustrating. Here are five talking points from Burnley.
Arsenal fall to the top
They have been at the top of the table for over 200 days, but the truth is, it looked like no one could catch Arsenal on goal difference. City always threatened to move into top gear, but they never achieved it. Well, they certainly are now, and it’s going to be huge psychologically to see their names at the top of the table.
Erling Haaland’s goal in the fifth minute was the winner.
In terms of league positions, this was City’s easiest opponent, and there would have been a sense of frustration at not returning to Manchester with an advantage over Arsenal, as goal difference could have decided where the trophy went. But with City now in the FA Cup, the Gunners have a chance to be top of the table again.
missed a chance
If anyone knows the value of winning big late in the season to ensure they win the title on goal difference, it’s City. It could be a repeat of 2012, when they finished in the top two levels on points and were separated only by goal difference.
Quietly, City will have been energized against Burnley knowing they needed to not only win, but win well. They beat Burnley 5-1 earlier this season and a win by a similar scoreline would have been noteworthy. Instead, they dominated the game, but the margin of victory was narrow. Guardiola hopes it won’t prove costly in late May, despite growing tension on the touchline as his team conceded numerous chances and positions.
Battle of the Fab Four
For all the qualities Guardiola possesses, this title bid is led by a front four that looks to have everything you want in a final third. Haaland’s goal was and will continue to be important. Behind him, Rayan Cherki takes the main playmaking role and benefits from out-and-out pace alongside him.
Man City continue to miss chances
Jeremy Doku, sometimes criticized for being too raw, has found his best level since moving to Manchester, while Semenyo has carried on his Bournemouth form and is proving to be one of the best wingers in the league. Their contribution and understanding led to the likes of Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush resigning themselves from the bench, but you can’t argue with their choices right now, even if they weren’t firing on all cylinders on Wednesday night.
Silva goes out with a bang
Bernardo’s departure from Manchester was recently announced, but it appears the Portuguese sensation is keen to showcase his talent before leaving the Etihad. He was one of the pillars of the Guardiola era and has played a variety of roles.
In his final year, he played deeper but also had the freedom to move forward. His unstoppable energy, decent touch, and off-the-charts football IQ make him a joy to watch. He has been one of the absolute winners who has risen to the top of the table at the end of this season and is in no danger of exiting through the back door, leaving Bernardo in a leading role even if Wednesday night was a source of frustration for everyone involved at City.
Burnley fans finally saw their team’s relegation confirmed
Burnley’s fate confirmed
After what felt like an inevitability in recent months, Monday night confirmed the Timberwolves’ status as a championship team next season. Burnley’s season hasn’t been going so well and their relegation was finally confirmed on Wednesday night in front of an empty crowd at Turf Moor.
They were in the hunt for a championship title last season, but never looked like they had a shot at survival. They relied heavily on their defensive performance from last season, which never translated into action in the top flight and they were unable to fix their game. For Parker, this is another demotion on his resume.
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