Injuries continue to mount but we…

…keep pushing-on towards glory!

v Burnley.

Early KO and running out of time already, so straight to it…

Turf Moor

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game: 10/11).

Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3

____________________Aguero____________________

Sterling_________________________________B. Silva

________Gundogan__________De Bruyne__________

_________________Fernandinho___________________

Zinchenko________________________________Walker

____________Laporte_________Otamendi___________

____________________Ederson____________________

Subs: Bravo, Danilo, Kompany, Adarabioyo, Toure, Diaz, Nmecha.

Ederson holds the gloves.

I think young Oleksandr should be up for another start, stamina-wise, and likely to be joined once again by Aymeric, Nicholas & Kyle.

Fernandinho the-almost-ever-present defensive midfielder ahead of those and ahead of him; Raheem, Ilkay, Kevin and the ever-improving Bernardo.

Serg once again ‘up top’.

Claudio on the side and being kept warm next to defensive replacement-options Danilo, Vincent & Tosin. Replacements available further up field include Yaya, Brahim and, I think, Lukas.

Notable absences: Benjamin Mendy (continues rehab following injury / surgery), John Stones (possibly out though illness), Fabian Delph (injured and still no return date), David Silva (Injured and no return date at the moment, I don’t think), Gabriel Jesus (still injured…and now more likely to return towards the end of February by all accounts) & Leroy Sane (Injured for about 6 or 7 weeks)…

Update 03.02.2018 (it was probably news yesterday but I've only seen it this morning): David Silva's previously reported groin problem that might have kept him out for a couple of weeks or there abouts turns out to be 'a bad knock' and is having a late fitenss test before today's game. He could, therefore, make the bench but I suspect that he might not be risked and, perhaps instead, given a full week off before our late, home KO against Leicester City next Saturday.

…and when you chuck into the injury-list-mix Phil Foden too, that’s definitely the worst our treatment tables have looked all season!

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yep…can’t do much else with the remaining playing staff available, really. Still very good players to chose from, of course!

Result? Erm…the factors going into this game:

-       We have injuries to key players.

-       Burnley have THEIR injuries to plenty of players too…especially to key defenders who have served them so-very well all season so far.

-       We’ll have played just over 2-½ days earlier.

-       So will have our hosts.

-       We’re away.

-       Despite missing players, Burnley are so very tight & organised.

-       Even in 3^rd gear, we’re playing SO very well at the moment!

All of those points considered and more? I think we’ll sneak this one and come away with 3 points.

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Win

Result: Win

Expected weather conditions during the game: Cold (just 3C), overcast and drizzly throughout.