The 2023/24 Premier League begins officially this Friday when the 2022/23 champions Manchester City travel to Turf Moor to face 2022/23 SkyBet Championship winners Burnley.
Both teams enjoyed remarkable success last season but will face new realities this season.
While Burnley enjoyed a record-breaking season in the Championship by finishing with 101 points, City won all but one of the available trophies last season.
But who will come out on top in this season’s curtain raiser?
Pre-match Stats
- Burnley lost just one league game at home last season (W16, D6).
- The Clarets were the fourth highest-scoring side (87 goals) across the top four tiers of England last season behind just Arsenal (88), Man City (94) and Ipswich Town (101).
- The hosts have lost the last 11 H2Hs against City by a whopping aggregate score of 40-1.
- No Burnley player has scored a goal against City since Robbie Brady in December 2019.
- Manchester City have lost just two of their last 27 competitive games (W20, D5).
- The Cityzens have won on opening day in eleven of the last twelve seasons (L1).
- All three of City’s away league games against newly-promoted opposition last season saw both sides score.
- Erling Haaland has scored not scored in City’s last six competitive games. But the Norwegian scored a hat-trick inside an hour when both sides met in last season’s FA Cup.
Match Preview
This weekend pits Burnley’s coach against his master Pep Guardiola, with the former Man City captain looking to make his mark in the Premier League.
Having guided Burnley to an immediate return to the Premier League after their relegation in 2022, the Belgian will be hoping to replicate his success in Turf Moor at the top-flight level.
Smart signings and a winning mentality which saw them lose just three times in 46 Championship games, would have left Burnley fans confident of success in the Premier League.
However, even the most optimistic Burnley fans know how hard it is to face Pep Guardiola’s side, with their side losing their last eleven games with City by a scoreline of 40-1.
But ahead of this game, Kompany’s side will be buoyed by their form at home, which saw them lose just once in the Championship last season. They’ll hope a sold-out Turf Moor can steer them to upset the Champions on opening day, just as they did in 2017/18 when they beat then-title holders Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Premier League, we're ready 👊 pic.twitter.com/V5qssH2JzX
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 11, 2023
Man City come into the tie desperate to get back to winning ways after their Community Shield loss to Arsenal on Sunday.
The Cityzens are looking to become the first side to win four consecutive Premier League titles. But their preparation for their title defence has taken a big hit, with two of their stars of the previous seasons leaving the club–Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
But despite the sales, they still have a solid squad and will fancy their chances of retaining the title, having signed experienced heads in Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol.
Having won eleven out of their last 12 season openers, Guardiola’s side will make the short trip to East Lancashire as the favourites.
It's that time again! ⌛️
Who's ready for it? 💪 pic.twitter.com/1q0CBSMoM2
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 11, 2023
Team News
Vincent Kompany will be without summer signing Michael Obafemi for this tie following hamstring surgery this summer.
Meanwhile, Nathan Aké is Man City’s only real injury doubt, with the Dutchman missing the FA Community Shield defeat to Arsenal last weekend. Goalkeeper Ederson and De Bruyne are expected to start after they started on the bench at Wembley.
Predicted lineups
Predicted Burnley Lineup: Arijanet Muric, Ameen Al Dakhil, Dara O’Shea, Jordan Beyer, Connor Roberts, Sander Berge, Jack Cork, Nathan Redmond, Josh Brownhill, Anass Zaroury, Lyle Foster.
Predicted Manchester City Munich Lineup: Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Rodri, Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland.
