Championship winners Burnley kick off the new season against last year’s Premier League champions, as Clarets head coach Vincent Kompany braces himself for another reunion against a City side he called home for over a decade during his illustrious playing career. This time, unlike their FA Cup quarterfinal tie back in March, it’ll be at Turf Moor – so is a different result in store too?
Setting the scene for a fitting opener
- Guardiola will take charge of his 415th game as City boss on Friday night, #55 for Kompany at Burnley after player-coach and integration into maiden managerial role at Anderlecht ended on a sour note last summer
- Fresh from playing decisive role during European triumph in Georgia, England U21 goalkeeper James Trafford prepares to face boyhood club after eight-year association, completed £15m move to Burnley last month
- The Clarets’ woeful H2H record (W1, D3, L16) doesn’t bode well – even with the morale boost of playing at Turf Moor – as Championship winners return to top-flight at the first time of asking under new management
Burnley vs. Manchester City
Premier League 2023-24, MD1 – Kick-off at 8pm BST
Live on Sky Sports in UK, USA Network in US
Five months removed from a 6-0 FA Cup quarter-final thrashing at the Ethiad by the Premier League champions, Vincent Kompany and his Burnley players will target a considerably more competitive first outing in Friday night’s curtain-raiser.
Erling Haaland completed his hat-trick a minute before the hour mark and their record-breaking Norwegian was afforded the rest of the night off shortly afterwards, though teammates didn’t ease up with an ever-growing scoreline in the bank.
Julian Álvarez had a brace and assist, England U21 midfielder Cole Palmer got amongst the goals too and it’s no surprise the academy graduate wants more minutes – either at City or on-loan elsewhere – after an eventful summer’s work.
Brighton are said to be interested, while West Ham and newly-promoted Sheffield United also have been linked in recent days as his immediate future remains unclear.
While Burnley’s business has largely been completed ahead of time, City constantly search for ways not to stall as Pep Guardiola’s cycle at the helm begins Year 8 and the Catalan has warned against expecting another treble this coming campaign.
“Vinny knows us well and has done an incredible job, changing the way Burnley played for the last few years with Sean Dyche. He destroyed the Championship, since day one it was win, win, win and it’s so difficult in this competition.
It will be a tough game, normally the first games are difficult, especially against newly-promoted teams – they have nothing to lose, energy and the dream for a good season.”
Kompany, by contrast, has refused to publicly set targets for his players but knows their season will not be defined by individual results against the big six, but rather outsmarting other sides in the bottom half – like another of the promoted trio.
Critics have already written off Sheffield United’s chances of survival this term after selling two of their best players – one to Burnley – while Luton’s plucky story deserves the recognition it has received since their playoff success in May.
Importantly though, many don’t feel they will be well-equipped to deal with the jump in quality ahead of their first top-flight season. Time will quickly tell.
Wolves are weakened, Nottingham Forest and Everton stagnating while questions remain about Crystal Palace post-Wilfried Zaha too. Roy Hodgson’s return was meant to be a short-term fix, so with those rivals in mind… they can afford to be bullish.
“I can’t say 17th is the target, I’m absolutely incapable of pronouncing these words but if that’s the case, there will probably be celebrations at the club. But my focus is on asking the players, making sure they don’t put a ceiling on anything they achieve.
We have different bank accounts with clubs at the top but in reality, we start with the same amount of points, so get better, that’s what I tell my team and we’ll see where I finish.”
Team news, predicted XIs
Obafemi sidelined for Clarets, what about new man Berge?
Burnley’s only absentee is Irish international Michael Obafemi, as the 23-year-old forward underwent successful surgery after tearing his right hamstring during Ireland’s 3-0 Euro 2024 qualification win over Gibraltar on June 19.
Unlikely to feature until October at the earliest, the Clarets have made a series of shrewd signings this summer – so his absence won’t be felt as much – after experiencing a solid loan spell in Lancashire last term, making 12 appearances.
As far as attacking reinforcements are concerned: Jacob Bruun Larsen (Hoffenheim, loan), Nathan Redmond (Besiktas, free) and Swiss forward Zeki Amdouni (Basel, £16.1m) have all joined a blossoming project with Kompany at the helm, while Anass Zaroury followed Manuel Benson in agreeing contract extensions to summer 2026.
Burnley lost 3-0 to Bundesliga side Mainz in their final pre-season friendly last Saturday, Kompany rotating his squad and essentially fielding two sets of players – one in the first-half, another after 50 minutes on the clock.
That makes predicting his maiden starting eleven more difficult, given their offseason acquisitions across multiple positions adds further competition for places.
It’s unclear if highly-rated Norway international Sander Berge has been registered in time to play this weekend, having completed a £12m move from Sheffield United on Wednesday but a Cork-Brownhill holding midfield pivot is likely if not.
Predicted XI – Burnley (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Roberts, Beyer, O’Shea, Vitinho; Berge, Brownhill; Redmond, Amdouni, Zaroury; Foster.
£77m signing Gvardiol could make City debut
Guardiola has confirmed that defensive duo Nathan Ake (knock) and £77m signing Josko Gvardiol are available to feature tomorrow night, after both didn’t play in their Community Shield defeat on penalties against Arsenal last Sunday.
Ake, who signed a contract extension two weeks ago, is fit after a minor injury sustained in their pre-season tour of Asia. Manuel Akanji, a central defender by trade, filled in at left-back in his absence – as he did on a handful of occasions last term.
Gvardiol was officially unveiled as a City player last Friday, joining from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig – presumably too soon to feature vs. Arsenal, though he’s trained as normal this week and could start. There are easier places to make your debut, mind.
£25m summer signing Mateo Kovacic has already spoken about enjoying his experience under Guardiola, giving him licence to roam through midfield and urging more creative impetus in the final third after five seasons at Chelsea.
In the same vein, it’s likely he will mirror the responsibility left by Ilkay Gundogan after the German departed for Barcelona on a free transfer last month.
Kevin de Bruyne didn’t play any of their friendlies in Asia but came off the bench to assist Palmer’s opener in last weekend’s shootout defeat and should start.
If not, one of Álvarez and Phil Foden will likely prove a worthy replacement as the club internally monitors the Belgian’s fitness – having limped off with another muscular injury during their Champions League triumph against Inter in June.
Predicted XI – Manchester City (4-3-2-1): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Kovacic, Rodri, de Bruyne; Bernardo, Grealish; Haaland.
Picture source: Getty Images
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