Back to domestic football and a chance to build on good domestic results in our last two outings (4 points from away trips to Chelsea & Liverpool, as if you needed reminding).
Just before that and in case you missed them and are interested; here are the links to two, international break blog-postings that I recently released…
Who are they, where are they? Part 1
Who are they, where are they? Part 2
v Burnley
 |
| Etihad Stadium |
Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:
(Number correct from the starting line-up in the last game: 11/11).
Fluid 4-1-5-0 / 4-6-0 / 4-3-3:
______________________________________________
Grealish_________________________________Mahrez
____________________Foden_____________________
________De Bruyne_____________Silva____________
_____________________Rodri____________________
Cancelo_________________________________Walker
___________Laporte____________Dias_____________
_____________________Steffen___________________
Subs: Carson, Zinchenko, Ake, Stones, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Palmer, Edozie, Sterling.
Zack steps in as our stopper for this one.
I think we’ll see the same, recent & reliable back-4 with Joao on the left, Kyle on the right and with Aymeric & Ruben in the middle of those 2.
Rodders is the deeper of the midfielders and ahead of the Spaniard, is likely to be Jack on the left wing, Riyad on the right with a fluid, interchangeable Kevin, Phil & Bernardo in the middle / ‘up front’.
Scott comes in as our reserve keeper; a returning [from injury] Oleksandr, Nathan & John are the defensive replacement options from the side. Fernandinho; a returning also [from injury] Ilkay, Cole, Samuel & Raheem all providing the midfield / wing cover in ‘the 9’.
Notable absences:
- Ederson – Not in consideration after playing in a late-scheduled game for Brazil.
- Benjamin Mendy – Suspended by the club until further notice.
- Ferran Torres – Out with a foot injury until around Christmas time.
- Gabriel Jesus – Also not in consideration after playing in that same, late-scheduled game for Brazil.
Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?
Yep.
Result? A rare home game for us - one right in the middle of 6 away trips.
And I think it’ll be one where our visitor’s Manager will be hoping that we DON’T take advantage of; as he leads a side that has a Premier League record against us which reads, P14: W1 D3 L10. F11 A41. I’m not going to improve their mood by pointing out also that they sit in the bottom 3 after 7 games with no wins and 4 defeats; netting just 5 times and conceding 11.
Now at this point, I WAS going to note that despite what I’ve just said and where our guests sit in the table; a few struggling teams either side of them have conceded more goals, which gives me the impression that The Clarets are the same old, organised, hardworking side who, although they still-clearly struggle to score; can frustrate if the opposition isn’t on their ‘A game’. Add that to the fact that I think, in light of recent meetings, Sean Dyche might try to throw up even more walls than usual; this could have been – and still could be, of course – a somewhat frustrating day for us; with home fans needing to show some patience.
However, news came through on Thursday afternoon that they’ve lost their captain / central defender and ex-City-youth man, Ben Mee, to Covid-19 for a period of time. Then, yesterday morning, I discovered that they’re also highly likely to be without another regular defender in left-back, Charlie Taylor, who is struggling after a knock – two huge defensive blows for the team from Lancashire.
I had us down for a win before any Burnley injury news filtered through and the only thing that’s changed is the likelihood of us-scoring even more goals than I originally had in mind. No shock result - it’s a home win from me.
Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…
Prediction: Win
Result: Won
(Pre-match blog posting from that game)
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