Manchester City vs. Burnley: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Manchester City will be the big favourites to continue their exemplary recent form as they welcome Burnley to the Etihad Stadium.
The match will be the second batch of festive fixtures in quick succession, with both teams looking to cap off respective excellent years in style.
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The match is a classic case of David vs. Goliath, as Sean Dyche and his squad of modest but diligent players look to spring a surprise against the might of Manuel Pellegrini’s star-studded team.
But that won't make this one any less of an entertaining spectacle, especially when shock results are commonplace at this unique stage of the campaign.
Here's a look at how both sides have been faring in the build-up to this one, a rundown of how the game will play out and all the information you need on where to catch the action.
Date: Sunday, Dec. 28
Time: 3 p.m. (GMT)/10 a.m. (EST)
Live Stream: NBC Live Sports Extra (US), audio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live (UK)
TV Info: Highlights on BBC Match of the Day (UK)
City Searching for Record Consecutive Win
Burnley will have felt a little aggrieved to take nothing from their Boxing Day match with Liverpool, a game in which the Reds were significantly nullified by the cohesive Clarets.
But Raheem Sterling's moment of genius was a stark reminder that to triumph in the big games in this division, match-winners are vital.
At this juncture, Dyche's squad doesn't seem to possess a player of that calibre, meaning they're a side trying to get through on graft alone. Going to the Etihad, you suspect they're going to need a lot more than that to take a positive result away, especially against a City team that has been in irresistible recent form.
Indeed, if the Citizens can triumph over Burnley, it would be their 10th in a row in all competitions. As noted by Bleacher Report’s Manchester City correspondent Rob Pollard, that would be a club record:
"If City beat Burnley, it'll set a new club record for consecutive wins across all competitions.
— Rob (@RobPollard_) December 26, 2014"
Looking at the manner in which City applied themselves in their 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day, that record seems as though it will inevitably be broken.
Despite having no striker, the champions blitzed their way into a 3-0 half-time lead before taking their foot off the gas significantly in the second period of the game.
The standout player for City on the day was David Silva, and the Spanish maestro is beginning to find his feet once again after coming back from an injury layoff. He has scored three in his last two games now, and against the Baggies, he was the worthy recipient of the WhoScored.com man-of-the-match award after a sensational display:
With Silva dazzling defences, Yaya Toure in red-hot goalscoring form and Samir Nasri probing in patented fashion, it's very difficult to see just how Burnley will smuggle anything away from the Etihad Stadium in this one.
Dyche will surely set up his team to defend, but such is the quality of the opposition, they'll undoubtedly be overwhelmed and well beaten.
For City, this is a chance to put some pressure on league leaders Chelsea—who will face a tough trip to Southampton earlier in the day—and possibly move closer to the Blues on goal difference.
Chelsea are currently three goals ahead in those stakes, but as City know all too well—think of their title win in 2012/13—it's a statistic that can be crucial come the end of the campaign.
Expect a tough opening few minutes for City as Burnley rat around and make things difficult for the hosts.
But once gaps start to emerge, expect another Silva masterclass to ensue and another comfortable victory to cap off a prosperous year for those of a sky-blue persuasion.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Burnley
