9/30/20, 19:00 PM Kick-Off
2020/21 Carabao Cup Fourth Round
Manchester City instantly get back into action after a shock and frankly embarrassing 5-2 loss to Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite taking the lead in the opening minutes of the game through a brilliant strike by former Leicester man Riyad Mahrez, Man City’s fragile defence fell apart conceding three penalties throughout the game and becoming a victim to Jamie Vardy’s hattrick becoming the only player to ever score two hat-tricks against a Pep Guardiola team.
Granted, City do have a number of players out injured as well as their best defender in Aymeric Laporte who tested positive for COVID-19, but that is no excuse to put in a performance like they did on Sunday afternoon.
Man City coach Pep Guardiola said his team’s loss was down to his players lacking stability and belief.
“We played for 30 minutes so good – we scored a goal in [the fourth] minute,” said the manager. “But then we started to believe we were not playing good when it was the opposite. We are not strong enough to be stable and patient. We started to think we were playing bad. We told them at half-time they were playing good, try to be patient and the rest will be in our hands. We have to accept it,” he said. “But it’s still only the second game.”
Will Manchester City Continue with an Inconsistent Form?
City have the opportunity to put things right with a return to the win column away to Burnley in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
Sean Dyche’s men have had a tough start to the season, losing 4-2 to Leicester City on the opening day of the season, followed up by a 1-0 home loss to Southampton.
Injuries have played a part in Burnley’s struggles who are missing Ashley Barnes, James Tarkowski, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and captain Ben Mee, with the latter two recently returning to warm-ups but Dyche played off any chance of them featuring against Manchester City on Wednesday evening.
“They just joined in the warm-up and are not ready to join the main session yet,” said Dyche.
“We are just getting them back around the group really and then they will go and work on their individual work. For Johann it was nice to see him at least running on the grass. He has been doing a bit in the gym with recovery.
“Barnesy came through Friday (for the Under-23s) and that is really good news and he feels good. James Tarkowski was out there today and that will be a touch and go one as to whether he is right or not.
“Ben Mee just joined in the warmup and has gone and done some work on his own.”
Manchester City Betting Prediction v Burnley
Man City are currently on a five-match win streak against Burnley in all competitions, scoring five goals in three of those wins. They are yet to lose to Burnley since 2015.
I think City beats Burnley in convincing fashion to make it six in a row.
Sportsbooks’ odds on a City win open at -450. Odds on Burnley claiming a first win in five years against City open at +580. Odds on a draw at full time between the two clubs open at +300.
