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Premier League | Gameweek 1

Aug 11, 2023 at 8pm UK

Turf Moor

Burnley
0 - 3
Man City

Zaroury (90+4')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Haaland (4', 36'), Rodri (75')
Guardiola (75')

How Manchester City could line up against Burnley

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 09 August 2023

How Man City could line up against Burnley

Sports Mole looks at how defending champions Manchester City could line up when they open up the new Premier League season against Burnley on Friday night.

Manchester City have a fully-fit squad to choose from for the opening match of the new Premier League season against Burnley on Friday night.

The treble-winners begin their latest title defence - and their quest for an unprecedented fourth successive top-flight title - against their former captain Vincent Kompany's side at Turf Moor, fresh off the back of defeat on penalties to Arsenal in the Community Shield.

Kevin De Bruyne overcame the injury he sustained in the Champions League final to make a cameo off the bench at Wembley, and while he missed a penalty in the shootout, he could be fit to start in the league curtain-raiser on Friday.

Should he do so then he will look to revive his deadly partnership with Erling Haaland, who will no doubt have his eyes on more goalscoring records during his second season in English football.

The Norwegian netted 36 goals in just 35 Premier League games - and 52 goals across all competitions - in 2022-23 and is set to lead the line against the newly-promoted Clarets in this match.

Pep Guardiola's defensive selections have been notoriously difficult to predict season to season, with a key figure often finding himself out of favour the following year, but new signing Josko Gvardiol may be eased into proceedings rather than being thrown straight into the starting lineup at Turf Moor, despite being fit and ready to play.

Reports suggest that Kyle Walker is likely to now stay at the club following interest from Bayern Munich and so he could start again at right-back, while Manuel Akanji could start on the left, despite Nathan Ake being passed fit and Joao Cancelo now being back amongst the squad.

Man City's other new arrival, Mateo Kovacic, could go straight into the team in place of the departed Ilkay Gundogan, alongside Rodri, De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva, the latter of whom has also been heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad this summer.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Kovacic, Rodri, De Bruyne; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish