Match ends, Manchester City 3, Burnley 0.
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
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.
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.
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
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 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
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
- Possession
- Home77%
- Away23%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away0
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City 3, Burnley 0.
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.
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.
Post update
Hand ball by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
Post update
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Yaya Touré.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Kyle Walker.
Post update
Offside, Manchester City. David Silva tries a through ball, but Gabriel Jesus is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Ashley Westwood replaces Steven Defour.
Post update
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
Post update
Ben Mee (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
Post update
Foul by Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Post update
Robbie Brady (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Yaya Touré replaces Fernandinho.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus replaces Sergio Agüero.
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.
Comments
Join the conversation
But let's all just laugh at Man Utd. Hahahahahahah
Burnley made it difficult, but a solid performance (and another breath-taking assist from Kev), won the day.
"...an 11th straight win, equalling a club record..."
"...Manchester United ... lost 2-1 at Huddersfield Town..."
And a special day for SERGIO absolute legend he is!!!!
Great result for Huddersfield today too! Come on City!
Burnley are woeful yeah, sure. That's why Tottenham only managed a draw right?
He we go again, the ignorant facts of Guardiola
He created the great Barcelona side, they finished 7th season before and were heading nowhere, that great team didn't just fall out of the sky.
He is now getting City to play football at a level we have never seen in England before. Only October, but looking unstoppable.
Sit back and enjoy, no buses allowed.