Man City 2-0 Burnley: Player ratings as champions continue fine league form
Man City continued their impressive start to the Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring on the afternoon when he turned home the rebound from Phil Foden's effort on 12 minutes.
City quickly went in search of a second, but they lacked their usual conviction when moving the ball, with Raheem Sterling drawing a fine stop from Nick Pope after a Riyad Mahrez cross.
Pep Guardiola will have no doubt have asked his players to up the intensity in the second half, as he moved Foden infield to play as a centre forward while Sterling pulled out to the flanks.
The hosts responded to their manager's call as Mahrez grazed the crossbar with an effort before Aymeric Laporte lashed over shortly after.
Kevin De Bruyne then settled the nerves inside the Etihad Stadium 21 minutes from time, lashing beyond Pope after Mahrez led a swift counter-attack for the hosts.
Here's how both teams rated.
Man City player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Zack Steffen (GK) – 6/10 - Replaced Ederson after the Brazilian’s exploits with Brazil on international duty and saved well when called upon.
Joao Cancelo (RB) – 7/10 - A constant menace down the right hand side, linking effectively with Bernardo Silva.
John Stones (CB) – 7/10 – Came in for his first start of the season and looked an assured presence.
Aymeric Laporte (CB) – 5/10 - Steady, but he was booked for a needless challenge on McNeil which made him walk a tightrope in the second half.
Nathan Ake (LB) – 5/10 - Didn't offer much of an attacking threat on the left hand side, but defended well enough.
2. Midfielders
Rodri (DM) – 6/10 - Orchestrated play at the base of the midfield, spraying passes to the flanks with great regularity.
Kevin De Bruyne (CM) - 5/10 - Endured a mixed afternoon, scoring City's second of the afternoon with a fine finish, but it was evident that the Belgian still hasn't regained full fitness.
Bernardo Silva (CM) – 9/10 - Continued his scintillating start to the season with the opening goal. Looked a threat all afternoon.
3. Forwards
Riyad Mahrez (RW) - 6/10 - Often worked himself into good areas, but his end product was lacking throughout to the frustration of the Man City faithful. Supplied De Bruyne for the second goal.
Raheem Sterling (ST) - 5/10 - Operated as a false nine, looking quite awkward, and was moved back out to the wing at half time.
Phil Foden (LW) - 7/10 - Isolated during the early exchanges, but continously found the correct pass in the final third. Moved centrally in the second half.
4. Substitutes
Ruben Dias (CB) - N/A
Fernandinho (CM) - N/A
Cole Palmer (RW) - N/A
Burnley player ratings
5. Goalkeeper & defenders
Nick Pope (GK) - 5/10 - Equal to a few decent City attempts in the first half.
Matthew Lowton (RB) - 5/10 - A difficult task with Foden constantly drifting infield, but he coped well.
Nathan Collins (CB) - 6/10 - Second successive start in the absence of captain Ben Mee. Impressed in the first half but struggled as City ramped up the intensity after the break.
James Tarkowski (CB) - 6/10 - Dealt with the pace of Sterling well enough and was aggressive in the tackle.
Erik Pieters (LB) - 4/10 - Found it tough going against the threat posed by City down their right hand side.
6. Midfielders
Dwight McNeil (RM) - 7/10 - A threat on the counter attack and drew a first half booking for Laporte.
Ashley Westwood (CM) - 5/10 - Battled well in the centre of the pitch but was left ball-watching by Bernardo Silva on a few ocassions.
Jack Cork (CM) - 5/10 - Drafted in to bolster the midfield and made a sizeable difference in terms of allowing Burnley to recover the ball higher up the pitch.
Josh Brownhill (CM) - 5/10 - Had an effort from distance in the first half and competed well in midfield.
Maxwel Cornet (LM) - 7/10 - Returned from a hamstring injury and looked Burnley's brighest attacking threat, causing City many problems. Surprisingly subbed off early in the second half.
7. Forwards
Chris Wood (ST) - 5/10 - Isolated upfront as Dyche opted to bolster the midfield.
8. Substitutes
Ashley Barnes (ST) - 5/10 - Replaced Cornet as Dyche rolled the dice in the second half.
Johann Gudmundsson (RM) - N/A
Jay Rodriguez (ST) - N/A