Tired Manchester City inch to the top and send Burnley back to Championship

Manchester City have not been top of the Premier League since the opening weekend of the season but they will usurp Arsenal at the summit tonight with a win at Burnley.

Victory would put City top courtesy of a superior goal difference if they win by two goals or more, or on goals scored if they win by just the one.

The more realistic Arsenal fans tuning into watch will be hoping Burnley, who will be relegated by a City win at Turf Moor this evening, can simply keep the score down.

City’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal in Sunday’s entertaining duel between the country’s two best teams means the title race is now in their hands and could go to the wire.

Technically speaking, it is in Arsenal’s hands too because the two teams will be level on points and close enough on goal difference, but that measure should favour a City team full of firepower.

They have found form and tactical balance at just the right time: Marc Guehi has settled into the heart of their defence, Nico O’Reilly is flying at left-back, Rodri and Bernardo Silva are rolling back the years in midfield and an awesome foursome of Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland leads the attack.

The expectation is that City will reel off six more wins on their way to a seventh league title under Pep Guardiola while Arsenal fall away, but both contenders still have a lot of football to play.

Burnley lost 2-0 to Arsenal, 1-0 to Liverpool and drew 2-2 with Manchester United at Turf Moore, so Scott Parker’s team have been relatively competitive against the big teams at home, but this is an even harder task.

It is an unlikely outcome, but the title could be decided by goal difference so City will not relent should they get in front tonight. Rodri misses the game with a groin injury.

Full team news on the way shortly.