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Bernardo Silva put Manchester City ahead with his second goal of the season - his first was the winner against Leicester last monthRaheem Sterling could not mark his return to Manchester City's starting line-up with a goal but Kevin de Bruyne made certain his side still beat Burnley after Bernardo Silva's early strike.
City had won 5-0 on each of the Clarets' past four visits to Etihad Stadium and it seemed like a similar scoreline was on the cards when the impressive Silva followed up Phil Foden's shot to give the home side an early lead.
There was to be no glut of goals on this occasion, however. Although City dominated possession and created plenty of chances, they failed to extend their advantage, giving the visitors hope.
Burnley gave them a few scares before De Bruyne added a second goal with 20 minutes to go, curling his shot home when the ball broke to him inside the box.
Sterling made only his third league start of the season - having been recalled at the end of a week where he spoke publicly about being open to a move abroad if he failed to get more game time at City.
He struggled to make an impact in the first half while playing as the central attacker in City's front three, managing only 11 touches - by far the lowest of any of their outfield players - and only one shot, which was blocked.
Sterling was far more involved when he switched to the left flank after the break but was unable to add to his tally of one league goal in 2021-22 and it was down to De Bruyne to finish the game off.
The win moves City into second place, a point behind leaders Liverpool. Burnley remain in the bottom three, still without a league win this season.
De Bruyne goal ensures Man City avoid nervy finale
Burnley could not end their winless run, which at 11 games is the longest in England's top four divisions, but they still gave City plenty to think about.
Maxwel Cornet, who saw his shot saved by Zack Steffen after running clear, went close to equalising in the first half, as did Josh Brownhill, who fizzed his shot inches wide.
City were misfiring too, with Riyad Mahrez another of their players failing to make the most of his recall - the closest he came with his four efforts at goal was when he blasted another Silva cut-back against the bar.
It could have made for a nervous finale for City's fans, if not for De Bruyne's cool finish after Burnley failed to clear their lines.
It meant the home supporters were able to relax and celebrate the news of Leicester's late goals in their win over City's neighbours United - something they did extremely loudly.
- Reaction from Manchester City v Burnley, plus the rest of Saturday's Premier League games
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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
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Manchester City
Squad number13Player nameSteffen- Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
Squad number5Player nameStones
Squad number14Player nameLaporte- Squad number6Player nameAké
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number26Player nameMahrez
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number47Player nameFoden
- Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Squad number25Player nameFernandinho- Squad number80Player namePalmer
Burnley
Squad number1Player namePope
Squad number2Player nameLowton
Squad number22Player nameCollins
Squad number5Player nameTarkowski
Squad number23Player namePieters
Squad number11Player nameMcNeil
Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
Squad number4Player nameCork
Squad number18Player nameWestwood
Squad number20Player nameCornet
Squad number9Player nameWood
Squad number7Player nameGudmundsson
Squad number10Player nameBarnes
Squad number19Player nameRodriguez
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Steffen
- 27Cancelo
- 5Stones
- 14LaporteBooked at 45minsSubstituted forRúben Diasat 72'minutes
- 6Aké
- 20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forPalmerat 90+1'minutes
- 16Rodri
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forFernandinhoat 84'minutes
- 26Mahrez
- 7Sterling
- 47Foden
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 3Rúben Dias
- 8Gündogan
- 10Grealish
- 11Zinchenko
- 25Fernandinho
- 33Carson
- 80Palmer
- 84Slicker
Burnley
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Pope
- 2Lowton
- 22Collins
- 5Tarkowski
- 23Pieters
- 11McNeil
- 8Brownhill
- 4CorkSubstituted forGudmundssonat 72'minutes
- 18Westwood
- 20CornetSubstituted forBarnesat 56'minutes
- 9WoodSubstituted forRodriguezat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Gudmundsson
- 10Barnes
- 13Hennessey
- 14Roberts
- 17Lennon
- 19Rodriguez
- 25Norris
- 26Bardsley
- 28Long
Referee:Martin Atkinson
Attendance:52,711
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 2, Burnley 0.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Burnley 0.
Substitution, Manchester City. Cole Palmer replaces Bernardo Silva.
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by James Tarkowski (Burnley).
Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Nathan Aké (Manchester City).
Jóhann Gudmundsson (Burnley) wins a free kick on the right wing.
John Stones (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ashley Barnes (Burnley).
Substitution, Manchester City. Fernandinho replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
Substitution, Burnley. Jay Rodriguez replaces Chris Wood.
Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).
Nathan Collins (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Nathan Collins (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chris Wood (Burnley) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Nathan Collins with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Hand ball by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).
Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
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