Premier League
Man CityManchester City3BurnleyBurnley0

Manchester City 3-0 Burnley

By Chris BevanBBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Sergio Aguero equalled Manchester City's all-time goalscoring record as they beat Burnley to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Aguero's first-half goal, a controversial penalty, was his 177th for the club and brought him level with Eric Brook's total, as well as sending City on their way to an 11th straight win, equalling another club record.

City boss Pep Guardiola gave Aguero a warm embrace when the Argentina striker came off to a standing ovation late on.

"Aguero should pay a tribute to us - he should invite us to dinner," Guardiola joked. "He needs one more goal and it is going to happen sooner or later.

"It will be something special and it is so important for him to be the top scorer in the history of this club. We are happy that we will have that moment with him."

Burnley unhappy with penalty decision

Nick Pope brings down Bernardo Silva
Burnley manager Sean Dyche was not happy with the way Bernardo Silva went down for the penalty

City were eventually able to celebrate another victory, but they had to work hard to see off a resolute Clarets side, who were unhappy with the decision that led to them going behind.

A pack of Burnley players protested when Roger East pointed to the spot after visiting keeper Nick Pope tangled with Bernardo Silva as he chased the loose ball after denying Kevin de Bruyne.

Replays showed Pope's knee came down on Silva's foot as he slid in, and Guardiola said he thought a penalty was the correct decision.

Man City a top-class side - Sean Dyche

Burnley boss Sean Dyche said: "There is contact - I did not know it at the time - but it is minimal.

"For him to get that high off the floor with his arms above his head is almost a skill in itself. I was quite impressed with how far he travelled.

"If I kicked my kid in the garden, I don't think he would fall like that, so it was a moment where there has to be a bit of honour within the game where you go 'OK, he has caught me, but it is not enough'."

Aguero stepped up to calmly slot home, but Burnley, who arrived at the Etihad on the back of a six-game unbeaten run, did not lie down and their determined approach limited further City chances.

Man City passed intensity test - Pep Guardiola

Dyche's side had few sights of goal themselves, but it took two goals in the space of two second-half minutes from Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane for the home side to make sure of the points.

Otamendi rose highest from Sane's corner to power a header into the corner, despite the presence of Steven Defour on the post.

Sane galloped on to a precise through ball from Kevin de Bruyne to score City's third goal, their 20th in their past four home Premier League games.

City, two points clear before the game, extended their lead over second-placed Manchester United, who lost 2-1 at Huddersfield Town.

Aguero back, and back in the goals

Pep Guardiola believed Manchester City's penalty was the correct decision by referee Roger East
Pep Guardiola believed Manchester City's penalty was the correct decision by referee Roger East

It is only 23 days since Aguero injured his ribs in a car crash in an Amsterdam taxi, but he made a very happy return to action to make his 262nd appearance for City.

The 29-year-old Argentina striker, who joined the club for £38m in 2011, was an unused substitute in City's previous two games but was recalled by Pep Guardiola and took his chance.

Aguero missed from the spot when he had the chance to equal Brook's record in his last game, against Shakhtar Donetsk at the end of September, but he made no mistake this time.

He went close to breaking Brook's record too, going close with a fierce shot across goal following a run to the edge of the area, and bringing a fine save from Pope.

Burnley away run ends, but not without a fight

Burnley's average position (right) saw them sit deep. They had less than 10% possession in the opening 10 minutes but became slightly more adventurous as the game went on.
Burnley's average position (right) saw them sit deep. They had less than 10% possession in the opening 10 minutes but became slightly more adventurous as the game went on.

Burnley arrived at the Etihad on the back of an impressive run of away form that had seen them beat Chelsea and Everton and draw with Liverpool and Tottenham.

They approached this game in the same way, by defending with determination and working hard to deny City space and chances.

The Clarets succeeded in making life difficult for their hosts, although Pope had to make good saves from De Bruyne, David Silva and Aguero, while James Tarkowski made a typically brave block with his head to stop Bernardo Silva from scoring.

Dyche's side had less success at the other end, although Chris Wood forced Ederson to come rushing from his goal when he battled through and Scott Arfield should have done better when the ball broke to him on the edge of the box.

Man of the match - Leroy Sane

Leroy Sane scores
Leroy Sane was a livewire throughout and a constant threat down the left or right. He made one goal - Otamendi's header - and the one he scored moments later (pictured) was the best of the game.

Sane shining - the stats

  • This is Manchester City's joint-best points return after nine games of a Premier League season, alongside 2011-12. The only team who have more more points at this stage of a season were Chelsea (27) in 2005-06.
  • City have 25 points this season; only once has Pep Guardiola (27 with Bayern Munich in 2015-16) won more points as a manager from the opening nine games of the season.
  • City's Leroy Sane has both scored and assisted in three of his past four Premier League games.
  • Sane has been involved in nine goals in his past six Premier League games (five goals, four assists).
  • Since his City debut in September 2015, Kevin de Bruyne has provided 33 assists in the Premier League, more than any other player.

What next?

Manchester City host Wolves in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (20:00 BST), then travel to play West Brom next Saturday (15:00).

Burnley are next in action on Monday, 30 October, when they are at home to Newcastle (20:00).

Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

  • 31Ederson
  • 2Walker
  • 5Stones
  • 30Otamendi
  • 18Delph
  • 17De BruyneSubstituted forGündoganat 80'minutes
  • 25FernandinhoBooked at 44minsSubstituted forY Touréat 78'minutes
  • 21Silva
  • 20Bernardo Silva
  • 10AgüeroSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 76'minutes
  • 19SanéBooked at 29mins

Substitutes

  • 1Bravo
  • 3Danilo
  • 7Sterling
  • 8Gündogan
  • 15Mangala
  • 33Gabriel Jesus
  • 42Y Touré

Burnley

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 29Pope
  • 2Lowton
  • 5TarkowskiBooked at 29mins
  • 6Mee
  • 23Ward
  • 12Brady
  • 16DefourSubstituted forWestwoodat 84'minutes
  • 4CorkBooked at 52mins
  • 37Arfield
  • 13HendrickSubstituted forBerg Gudmundssonat 71'minutes
  • 11WoodSubstituted forBarnesat 20'minutesBooked at 57mins

Substitutes

  • 3Taylor
  • 10Barnes
  • 17Berg Gudmundsson
  • 18Westwood
  • 22Lindegaard
  • 26Bardsley
  • 28Long
Referee:
Roger East
Attendance:
54,118

Match Stats

Home TeamMan CityAway TeamBurnley
Possession
Home77%
Away23%
Shots
Home15
Away6
Shots on Target
Home10
Away0
Corners
Home4
Away5
Fouls
Home10
Away6

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Manchester City 3, Burnley 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Manchester City 3, Burnley 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ashley Barnes (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

  4. Post update

    Attempt missed. Leroy Sané (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan.

  5. Post update

    Hand ball by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).

  6. Post update

    Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Yaya Touré.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Kyle Walker.

  10. Post update

    Offside, Manchester City. David Silva tries a through ball, but Gabriel Jesus is caught offside.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Burnley. Ashley Westwood replaces Steven Defour.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).

  13. Post update

    Ben Mee (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Attempt saved. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the top left corner.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Kevin De Bruyne.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Kyle Walker (Manchester City).

  17. Post update

    Robbie Brady (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. Yaya Touré replaces Fernandinho.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus replaces Sergio Agüero.

  20. Goal!

    Goal! Manchester City 3, Burnley 0. Leroy Sané (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City98103242825
2Man Utd96212241820
3Tottenham85211551017
4Chelsea95131710716
5Watford94321517-215
6Newcastle9423108214
7Arsenal84131210213
8Liverpool83411312113
9Burnley934289-113
10Southampton933389-112
11Huddersfield9333710-312
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13West Brom9243710-310
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15Swansea9225610-48
16Everton8224513-88
17West Ham9225817-98
18Stoke92251020-108
19Bournemouth9216613-77
20Crystal Palace9108219-173
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