Manchester City vs Burnley. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance54,463.
Monday 2 January 2017 14:53, UK
Manchester City will be looking to close the "huge" gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea when they host Burnley on Monday.
City were on the end of a loss on New Year's Eve to Liverpool, and now lag 10 points behind Chelsea in top spot with manager Pep Guardiola admitting it could be tough to catch the Blues in the second half of the season.
"The gap is huge because they deserve to be there. When they don't lose it is like this," he said. "But we are in the Champions League and league [contention]. After that defeat on the last day of the year the conclusion is, always, 'could be better' but the way they are training, I am glad to work with these guys."
Jeff Hendrick is set to return to the Burnley team after suspension having missed out on Saturday's 4-1 win over Sunderland.
The Clarets' record signing was sidelined after picking up a fifth yellow card for the season and is in line for an instant return to the starting line-up.
Although Sean Dyche's side have struggled on the road this season, the manager insists his side will not be daunted by the prospect of performing at the Etihad Stadium.
"There's a massive gulf between us and them, but it is the marvel of football," Dyche said. "We're here to take on these challenges and mostly we do take them on. If that gets us something, fantastic, if it doesn't, I don't think anyone will bat an eyelid. It's one for us to go there with freedom to take it on, and a big challenge."
Although Hendrick is back in contention, Dean Marney will be serving a one-match ban on Monday after picking up his fifth caution of the campaign against Sunderland.
Jon Flanagan will be missing too due to a knee injury that Clarets boss Dyche said he will have a scan for this week.
Man City have no fresh injury concerns, with Leroy Sane still doubtful after missing the last two games with an unspecified muscle injury.
Captain Vincent Kompany (knee) is not yet ready to return, while Fabian Delph (groin) has been out since August and Ilkay Gundogan (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Both previous Premier League meetings between these sides at the Etihad have finished level (3-3 and 2-2), with Burnley equalising in the final 10 minutes both times.
Burnley's last win away at Man City in league competition was in March 1963 (5-2), drawing six and losing six since then.
Man City are unbeaten in their last 28 home Premier League games against newly promoted sides (W25 D3) since losing 0-2 to Reading in February 2007. Two of those three draws have been against Burnley.
Along with the KCOM Stadium, the Etihad is one of just two Premier League grounds that Burnley have visited more than once and not lost at.
The Citizens have lost only once in their last 12 Premier League contests at the Etihad Stadium (W7 D4) and have found the net in 16 of their last 17 matches on home soil.
Burnley have picked up just one point from a possible 24 on the road this season (W0 D1 L7).
Burnley have won the lowest proportion of their Premier League points away from home this season (1/23 - 4%).
The Clarets have failed to score in 11 of their last 17 Premier League away games, netting just six goals in the process.
Andre Gray scored more goals in this game (3) than he had in his previous 12 Premier League games put together (2).
Guardiola has now suffered twice as many league defeats this season (4) as he did in the entire 2015/16 Bundesliga campaign with Bayern Munich (2).
City have kept just four clean sheets in their 19 Premier League games under Guardiola.
Burnley at home is a nice game for Guardiola after the disappointment against Liverpool when they passed the ball around nicely but rarely looked a major threat. I know Burnley won 4-1 at home to Sunderland on Saturday, but this is a very different proposition for Dyche, especially because this is a must-win game for Man City. Draws are no good in the Premier League at the moment and I'm backing City for a big win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0
Manchester City are the shortest-priced favourites on Monday's Premier League coupon at 1/6 to beat a Burnley side with an awful away record.
The Clarets have managed just one point from eight games so far so it's no surprise that City are 4/9 to cover a one-goal handicap and 11/10 to win by three or more in what should be a straightforward afternoon for them.
Burnley can be backed at 16/1 to secure their first away win in style and 6/1 for the draw, while Saturday's star Andre Gray is 200/1 for another hat-trick and, more realistically, 7/2 to find the net.