Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Burnley (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City look to maintain their strong run of form following the international break with a Premier League clash against newly-promoted side Burnley this weekend.

It was a contrasting performance from Pep Guardiola’s side last time out in top-flight action, as they frustrated Arsenal to secure a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium; Erling Haaland combining with Tijjani Reijnders to score our only goal through a counter-attack.

A late equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli ultimately breached Manchester City’s rigid nine-man defence in injury time, sharing the points but also highlighting the additional tactical flexibility that Guardiola has at his disposal.

City then turned their attentions to Carabao Cup action and strolled to a 0-2 win over League One side Huddersfield Town away from home courtesy of goals from Phil Foden and Savinho, setting up a fourth round meeting with Swansea City in South Wales.

Burnley present Manchester City’s next challenge with a visit to the Etihad Stadium for Scott Parker’s side, taking on Guardiola’s men who remain without a number of first-team stars due to injury and fitness concerns.

Mateo Kovacic is back in training but continues to develop his own fitness, and it remains to be seen whether he will be involved in any capacity this weekend. As for Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Cherki, and Omar Marmoush, the quartet remain sidelined.

Ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League clash against Burnley, here is how we predict Pep Guardiola will line-up his side at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon!

Predicted XI

Having sat out of the midweek clash against Huddersfield Town in Carabao Cup action, the expectation is that Gianluigi Donnarumma should come straight back in for Manchester City upon the return of Premier League duties.

Right-back has become a slightly easier position to predict given Abdukodir Khusanov’s injury lay-off sustained last weekend, and following Matheus Nunes’ outing in the role last time out, we think it could be Rico Lewis who takes on the responsibilities this time around.

In the centre of defence, Manchester City have often turned to a partnership of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in recent weeks, bringing plenty of success too with their solidity shown against Manchester United and Arsenal in particular.

With Rayan Ait-Nouri expected to remain sidelined until after the October international break, the likeliest solution at left-sided full-back is youngster Nico O’Reilly, who could be a difficult figure to displace when his aforementioned defensive teammate returns next month.

Taking on midweek rest himself given a hectic run of fixtures under his belt, this weekend should see Rodri come straight back into the deep-lying No.6 role in Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up.

Ahead of the Spaniard and it is expected that Tijjani Reijnders will continue his run of starts in a more advanced but fluid central position, connecting defence with attack through his lung-bursting runs through the centre of the park.

That leaves a No.10 position to fill in Pep Guardiola’s latest set-up, and we think it could be yet another start for Phil Foden, who is full of energy at the moment and clearly wanting to maintain the strong momentum he is enduring.

Moving out onto the right of the attacking trio for this weekend, and we think it could be Bernardo Silva who is handed responsibilities, moving Oscar Bobb onto the bench and leaving Savinho also out of the line-up.

Having recovered from a minor back problem picked up against Arsenal, Erling Haaland is now ready to return to Manchester City action in full and given his hot streak of scoring form, the Norwegian should start again.

That leaves the left-wing role to fill, and there should only really be one candidate for this position with Jeremy Doku a starring figure of Manchester City’s positive performances in the last fortnight.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Rodri, Reijnders, Foden; Bernardo, Haaland, Doku.

Substitutes: Trafford, Nunes, Stones, Ake, Mfuni, Nico, Mukasa, Savinho, Bobb.