On the surface, it’s easy to overlook the potential for entertainment from a matchup between Manchester City and Burnley. One team is a giant who are always in or near the title picture in recent years, and the other is, well, just Burnley.
Manchester City vs. Burnley 2017: Start time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know
Manchester City look primed for an upset in their first match of the new year.
But right now, they shouldn’t be overlooked. City are in a spot of poor form, coming off a loss just two days ago and struggling to play well for weeks. Burnley, on the other hand, are playing well and punching a bit above their weight.
That sets up an intriguing opportunity for this match, with City perhaps looking vulnerable to a major upset. Will they be shocked? Perhaps not, but just the chance that they will be makes this match much, much more interesting.
TV: CNBC (U.S.)
Online: NBC Sports Live (U.S.)
Match Date/Time: Monday, 10 a.m. ET, 3p.m. local
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
Three big things to know
- Fatigue is going to be a major factor in this match, with both sides having just played tough matches on Saturday. Manchester City in particular could have a tough time in this one, having come away on the losing end of their match against Liverpool, one in which they looked outmatched for much of the game. Bouncing back from that won’t be easy, and Pep Guardiola has a difficult task at hand to find the answers he needs.
- Burnley, meanwhile, won their match this weekend, a big 4-1 triumph over Sunderland. That wasn’t an easy match despite the favorable final score, however, and they have a lot of tired legs in the squad because of it. They need to find a big reserve of energy if they’re really going to challenge City — and a a win over City could be exactly what Burnley need to really jump start their season.
- In addition to fatigue, Manchester City need to figure out how to get the most of their midfield, which has struggled badly without Ilkay Gundogan. They lack a a good option to replace his energy and creativity in the middle, but most of all they lack someone with his discipline and instincts of what to do defensively. That loss has left them badly exposed at times, and Pep Guardiola needs to find some way to paper over those cracks.
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