Man City sail past Burnley to regain the top place
Key takeaways:
- Gundogan, Manchester City's top scorer in the Premier League the previous season with 13 goals, has scored six this term.
- Manchester City immediately returned to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable victory over struggling Burnley.
Liverpool's win over Watford earlier on Saturday had hit the defending champions off the summit for the first time since 4 December. Still, Pep Guardiola's team answered in grand style at Turf Moor.
It took only five minutes for City to grab the lead when Raheem Sterling struck Rodri's cross into the path of Kevin de Bruyne, who had time to choose his spot and fire into the top of the net.
Sterling and De Bruyne connected again for the second goal, but Ilkay Gundogan delivered the finish - a superb volley past Nick Pope after Sterling saw him in space inside the room.
City was in total control and could afford to see Sterling, Jack Grealish, and substitute Gabriel Jesus waste incredible opportunities because Burnley never looked capable of climbing a comeback.
The home side eventually managed an attempt on target after 75 minutes when replacement Jay Rodriguez brought a diving save from Ederson. Still, they can take few positives from a fourth consecutive loss other than avoiding significant harm to their goal difference.
Burnley stays rooted in the last three, while City can run into next Sunday's top-of-the-table conflict with Liverpool knowing they will remain in the first place if they avoid loss.
City should have scored more
City has a massive week ahead, with the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday ere Jurgen Klopp's in-form Liverpool next Sunday - the beginning of a series where they play both squads twice.