The 2023/24 Premier League season starts with two familiar faces starting a new rivalry as newcomers Burnley host champions Manchester City.
Turf Moor will kick off the 2023/24 Premier League season and offer Burnley a chance to make a stellar start to the season when they face Manchester City, the treble winners. And Vincent Kompany could make a statement of intent right from the start.
It is not an easy task by any means for Kompany and his Burnley side, who will have the pressure on their side to perform well against this formidable team. The last time they met was in the FA Cup last season, as Manchester City handed the Clarets a heavy 6-0 defeat.
"He's not our player yet but I hope he will be soon!" 👀
Vincent Kompany looks ahead Burnley's first game of the season against Manchester City and discusses the club's latest transfer targets ⏳ pic.twitter.com/Uma0JnEP74
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 10, 2023
Burnley were massive in the EFL Championship season last time and finished the league as winners to gain automatic promotion. Kompany’s biggest challenge is to keep the Clarets in the top division, and achieving something above that will come as a bonus.
Pep Guardiola will embark on another challenging season with Manchester City as they seek to break new records. The media narrative around their new campaign is to try and win the Premier League four times in a row, something never done before in the competition’s history.
The manager has ensured the team is more or less intact following their treble win last season. But there have been a few key departures. Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez have left the club, but Guardiola will hope that’s the end.
Our boss 🤩 pic.twitter.com/dYNbnVyQdA
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 10, 2023
Manchester City will also hope to start by winning their first league game after their defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield. The Gunners overcame Guardiola’s men via a penalty shootout. A 100th-minute Leandro Trossard deflected strike cancelled Cole Palmer’s beautiful curler.
Guardiola will enter the season with lofty ambitions. His main task will point towards keeping his treble winners motivated and hungry for more success. Whether he manages that remains the question. But Manchester City will undoubtedly enter the new campaign to win it all again.
Team News & Tactics
Burnley
Vincent Kompany will continue his attacking philosophy and bring the necessary changes, even if his team faces the formidable Manchester City. The Clarets will start with a 4-2-3-1 attacking shape, and Jay Rodriguez will remain their focal point as things stand.
🇳🇴✍️ pic.twitter.com/ejNTx12SIk
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 9, 2023
Kompany also has fresh faces in his squad and could afford a start to quite a few. For starters, James Trafford will make his Premier League debut against his former club, hoping to perform at the biggest stage.
New signing Sander Berge may not get thrown into the deep end yet and may have to bide his time. However, Kompany could hand starts to the new central defensive pairing of Dara O’Shea and Jordan Beyer.
New signing Michael Obafemi will remain sidelined after undergoing surgery on his hamstring. Nathan Redmond may not start despite his immense experience. Kompany has many other options, including Anass Zaroury to play on the wings.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Roberts, Beyer, O’Shea, Vitinho; Cork, Cullen; Manuel, Brownhill, Zaroury; Rodriguez
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola does not have too many injury problems on his side. The big focus will be on new arrival Josko Gvardiol and whether the Croat will make a start. Last weekend’s Community Shield came too soon for the centre-back, but he could feature on their bench for the Premier League opener.
PEP 💬 [On Ake] He trained good, he’s ready too. pic.twitter.com/ouVbhMFKuQ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 10, 2023
Hence, Guardiola will likely go ahead with the same backline that faced Arsenal. Manuel Akanji will continue at left-back, with Nathan Ake still not completely fit. So Guardiola will not risk the Dutchman. Ruben Dias and John Stones will occupy the central berths, with Kyle Walker on the right. Ederson will also return in goal to replace Stefan Ortega.
Mateo Kovacic will keep his place in midfield despite underwhelming against Arsenal. Kevin De Bruyne was fit to feature off the bench, and the Belgian international could replace the ineffective Julian Alvarez in the attacking third.
Bernardo Silva will keep his right-wing spot for now, with Jack Grealish set on the left-hand side of the front three. Erling Haaland will hope to open his account for the season and lead the line for Manchester City.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Kovacic; Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
Key Stats
- Manchester City have won their last 11 matches against Burnley in all competitions.
- Manchester City have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last eight matches against Burnley in all competitions.
- Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in their last seven matches against Burnley in all competitions.
- Burnley have yet to score against Manchester City since December 2019.
- Burnley have conceded a whopping 40 goals in their last 11 games against Manchester City.
Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland x 23/24 away shirt. 🥶💧 pic.twitter.com/ZC4qysId3s
— City HQ (@City_HQs) August 10, 2023
A monumental season for the Norwegian saw him break the Premier League goalscoring record for a single season with 36 strikes. He also bagged himself the treble by helping the team win it all. The new challenge for Guardiola will be to motivate his players and keep the hunger alive.
He has to keep Haaland in his element and find a way to help the Norwegian keep scoring plenty of goals. The striker will lead the Manchester City side and has a fantastic opportunity against a newly promoted side to open the season emphatically.
Prediction
Burnley 0-3 Manchester City
Burnley were the charm of the Championship last season. But they are facing a different gravy in the Premier League this year. Despite the praise for Vincent Kompany for revitalising this team, he faces a daunting task. It is against his former manager and current Premier League champion, Guardiola.
The Community Shield defeat should not form a marker around Manchester City. The game merely showed the two potential contenders for this season are ready in full swing. Hence, Guardiola will expect his team to sweep Burnley aside and emphatically begin the season with a goals-galore.
