In-form Manchester Metropolis welcome Burnley to the Etihad Stadium within the Premier League.
The Blues have had a combined begin to the Premier League season, however with comfy 2-0 cup wins in opposition to Napoli and Huddersfield City, a Manchester Derby victory and a draw in opposition to Arsenal on the Emirates Stadium within the final two weeks, issues are trying a bit of brighter.
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Listed below are 5 issues to look out for as Metropolis tackle Scott Parker’s males:
The return of Walker
Most likely Metropolis’s greatest ever full again (and in Pep Guardiola’s eyes, among the finest full backs of all time) makes his first return to the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
Kyle Walker, who received six Premier League titles, together with one as captain, and lots of different trophies throughout an eight 12 months stint in East Manchester, joined promoted Burnley in a £5 million deal this summer season however he’s set to line up for the guests tomorrow.
The 35-year-old was appointed as Metropolis captain upon Ilkay Gundogan’s departure in 2023, however issues instantly went downhill for him.
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Public scandals, daft interviews and poor performances on the pitch had a variety of the web fanbase baying for his blood, definitely at the start of final season, the place Metropolis couldn’t purchase a win.
Walker left initially on mortgage to AC Milan in January, earlier than sealing his everlasting transfer to strengthen a document breakingly robust Burnley defence this summer season.
We will anticipate Metropolis’s former quantity two to obtain a superb reception when his identify is learn out, however from that time on consideration will flip to in-form and all the time harmful Jeremy Doku to try to spoil his homecoming.
Kovacic on the bench
For the primary time this season, we might see Mateo Kovacic in a matchday squad.
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The skilled Croatian midfielder underwent an achilles damage in Might, inflicting him to overlook 4 months over the summer season together with the Membership World Cup within the USA.
However Guardiola says Kovacic may very well be match to make the squad, and if match, he’ll be a welcome addition.
The previous Chelsea and Actual Madrid participant has a big trophy cupboard and may be very acquainted with the kind of soccer the Metropolis boss likes to play.
He’s technically sound, tremendous clever and versatile in midfield. Together with Nico Gonzalez, he’s the one participant who actually appears to be like comfy as a quantity six in Rodri’s absence, which is essential in permitting Rodri to mattress again into the aspect after his anterior cruciate ligament damage.
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Hopefully, he’ll be named amongst the substitutes, and maybe even get a couple of minutes to get him again up to the mark.
A Haaland hattrick?
Erling Haaland loves scoring objectives, significantly on the Etihad Stadium in opposition to promoted groups.
The 25-year-old has had his worst ever begin to a Premier League season, with a measly… six objectives in 5 league appearances.
A very unbelievable stat, significantly contemplating he’s performed in two defeats and a attract Metropolis’s opening 5 video games. I feel Haaland will rating in opposition to Burnley, and he’ll definitely have his sights on two, three or extra.
An identical crew to United, Napoli and Arsenal
After 9 modifications in midweek, we will anticipate a extra acquainted crew to the one we noticed begin in opposition to Arsenal, Napoli and Manchester United.
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Ginaluigi Donnarumma will come again into purpose, with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol sitting in entrance of him.
Rodri ought to hopefully begin on the base of midfield, while the attacking choices of Haaland, Doku, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva are additionally very more likely to begin.
Nico O’Reilly will begin at left again with Rayan Ait-Nouri nonetheless not match, and one in all Rico Lewis or Matheus Nunes will begin at proper again.
A crew like that may be very doubtless, and shall be far more acquainted and nicely functioning then the crew put out on the Accu Stadium on Wednesday.
A tricky sport, however a win
This sport received’t be fairly as simple as some anticipate it will likely be.
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I can see a irritating first half, the place Burnley sit deep and frustrate Metropolis by not permitting them any area in between the traces.
It might simply take a purpose for Metropolis to interrupt via and run riot from that time – and I wouldn’t rule them out finally profitable handsomely.
However these anticipating nothing lower than a thrashing may very well be dissatisfied.