90min

Manchester City predicted lineup vs Burnley - Premier League

By Grey Whitebloom

Pep Guardiola has never faced a club more often without defeat than his 14 managerial meetings with Burnley (13 wins)
Pep Guardiola has never faced a club more often without defeat than his 14 managerial meetings with Burnley (13 wins) / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages
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Manchester City start a sickening fortnight of fixtures with a Premier League game away to Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

Three days after City's trip to Turf Moor, Pep Guardiola's side have the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against reigning Spanish champions Atletico Madrid. City then host their chief title rivals Liverpool in the Premier League before travelling to Madrid for the second leg. A hellish period concludes with an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool the following Saturday. And breathe.

Here's the starting XI Guardiola may deploy against Burnley with that menacing run on the horizon.

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Ederson (GK) - City's undisputed starter didn't have the chance to challenge Alisson for Brazil's goalkeeper jersey after pulling out of the March internationals with a bout of gastroenteritis he may well have recovered from by Saturday.

Kyle Walker (RB) - Left out of England's squad for their two friendly victories, Walker may return for City this weekend before he serves the final game of his European suspension on Tuesday.

Aymeric Laporte (CB) - With both John Stones and Ruben Dias doubtful, Laporte is the senior figure at the heart of City's defence.

Nathan Ake (CB) - Given Laporte's ease on his right foot, exacerbated by Spain's glut of left-footed centre backs, Ake could be granted his natural position on the left of the defensive pairing.

Joao Cancelo (LB) - No Manchester City player has taken more Premier League shots than the adventurous fullback this season (60).

2. Midfielders

Rodri (DM) - Increasingly consistent performances have deservedly earned Rodri whispers of securing a contract extension.

Bernardo Silva (CM) - After scoring five goals in as many games as November bled into December, Bernardo has gone 14 Premier League matches without finding the net.

Ilkay Gundogan (CM) - One of the chief victims of Guardiola's rotation policy, Gundogan hasn't started more than three consecutive Premier League matches since September.

3. Forwards

Riyad Mahrez (RW) - No team has suffered at the dainty feet of Riyad Mahrez more often than Burnley, conceding eight goals netted by City's leading scorer across all competitions this term.

Phil Foden (ST) - Since sitting out a nervy New Year's Day victory over Arsenal, Foden has started City's last eight Premier League games.

Jack Grealish (LW) - The £100m-man provided a glimpse of the combination play that hasn't always been so fluid at City for England when he teed up his clubmate Raheem Sterling against the Ivory Coast - though Grealish is yet to provide a goal for his compatriot while wearing Sky Blue.