Manchester City kicked off their 2023/2024
Premier League season with a 3-0 win at Burnley. A brace from Erling Haaland plus Rodri's close-range effort secured a hard-earned three points on the road, with City made to fight for their win. Burnley used the atmosphere form their first home game back in the top-flight but lacked the quality to make it count. Haaland opened the scoring inside four minutes, the ball dropping at his feet just six yards form goal after a set-piece. And despite Vincent Kompany's side recovering well from that opener, the Norwegian was on hand again to curl a clinical effort past James Trafford in the 36th minute. City took the sting out of the game after the break and found time for a third goal, again from a set-piece as Burnley failed to clear and the ball fell to Rodri who smashed home. Burnley's Anass Zaroury was shown a straight red card in added-time for a raking challenge on Kyle Walker. Reflect on the MEN's coverage from Turf Moor below: Key Events GOAL! 20:05 City starting XI 19:00 No Stones or Dias 18:45 22:27 Kyle Newbould Rodri gives City priceless reminder amid
Liverpool and
Chelsea transfer chaos In a summer where every midfielder seems to set a crazy new transfer record,
Manchester City fans can rest easy that the best of the lot is already a Blue.
Arsenal went big early in splashing out £105m on Declan Rice and it was telling that on the day where Chelsea reportedly agreed a £55m fee for Romeo Lavia as well as battling it out with Liverpool for £111m Moises Caicedo it was Rodri who stole the show. It would probably cost a country to prize the Spanish star out of Pep Guardiola's squad and it was he, the goalscorer in the
Champions League final, who made sure City got their Premier League defence off to a winning start with a 3-0 win at Burnley that was more tricky than the scoreline suggested. It didn't look like it was going to be difficult with three minutes on the clock and Erling Haaland running away to celebrate after scoring with his first touch. The Norwegian fired in Rodri's header back across goal after a wicked cross from Kevin De Bruyne to briefly deflate the Turf Moor crowd. Read on here. (Image: 2023 Getty Images) Share Comments 22:06 Kyle Newbould RATINGS: Haaland and Rodri brilliant Ederson: Ridiculously cool under pressure in possession and his long game was also excellent, not far off an assist. 8 Walker: Used his pace well and found some joy attacking high up on the right. Clever for the second goal. 8 Akanji: A shaky start was followed by a more composed performance and helped City control the second half. 7 Ake: A welcome return to the team after his summer injury and he earned his clean sheet with a solid performance. 7 Read on here. (Image: PA) Share Comments 22:05 Kyle Newbould City show their class Far from their best but City come away from Turf Moor with three points. Haaland the difference-maker in the first half and able to control possession after the break. Share Comments FT - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould FULL-TIME Three goals and three points for City, who kick off their 2023/2024 Premier League campaign with a win. Share Comments 90+5' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould City sub Walker coming off after that challenge to be replaced by James McAtee. Share Comments 90+4' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould Red Card! Anass Zaroury is sent off for that challenge after a VAR review. Share Comments 90+3' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould Yellow card A first booking of the game for Zaroury, who catches Walker with a late and nasty challenge. VAR checking this one. Share Comments 90+1' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould Double Burnley sub OFF: Foster, Berge ON: Redmond, Brownhill Share Comments 90' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould Added-time Six minutes added on. Share Comments 90' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould Loose from Akanji A loose ball from the defender allows Foster to run at him and into the City box. Gets a toe on it and sends it out for another corner, which is again defended well. Share Comments 88' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould Foden off target A quick free-kick and Foden runs towards the edge of the box but hooks his effort wide. Share Comments 87' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould CHANCE Foden breaks forward and lays the ball into Julian Alvarez, who again sees his effort saved by Trafford. And as that happens, some idiot tries to get on the pitch but is tackled by the security staff, and booed on his way out. That'll be him never coming to a match again. Share Comments 85' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould Burnley still going for it The Clarets have had a succession of corners in the last few minutes which are testing City. But they're holding firm and the most recent sees Ederson fouled. Share Comments 80' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould ten to go Into the last 10 minutes at Turf Moor and it's
Job done for City. They've not been free-flowing all night but have been brilliant at killing the game off in this second half. Share Comments 80' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould A debut for Gvardiol The Croatian is one of three to come on, alongside Aymeric Laporte and Cole Palmer. come off Ake, Lewis and Haaland. Share Comments 79' - BUR 0 - 3 MCI Kyle Newbould CHANCE Haaland flies forward again and plays in Julian Alvarez, but the youngster's effort is blocked. Share Comments 76' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould Another set piece The ball falls awkwardly in the Burnley box from a deep free-kick, with Ake trying to fumble the ball in. It eventually falls to Rodri who fires home from all of six-yards. Game over. Share Comments 76' - BUR 0-3 MCI Kyle Newbould GOAL! Rodri makes it three! Share Comments 74' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould Change for Burnley OFF: Beyer ON: Benson Share Comments 73' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould CHANCE Foden the latest to get in behind from a longer ball. He tries to square it to Haaland but the ball runs past him and out of play. Foden wanted a corner but hasn't got one. Share Comments 72' - BUR 0-2 MCI Daniel Murphy Burnley lacking the threat If Burnley have had a shot this half I’ve certainly missed it. The home side have not been bad at all and were actually the better team for a large chunk of the first half but City’s experience is paying dividends here. The Blues have excellently killed their momentum, silenced the crowd and took the sting out of the game. Share Comments 67' - BUR 0-2 MCI Simon Bajkowski Ederson solid Ederson has been really good tonight, so composed under pressure whenever Burnley have pressed high. Stefan Ortega’s performance in the Community Shield brought some more questions about Ederson from a few (strange) fans but he is showing why he’s No.1. (Image: 2023 Marc Atkins) Share Comments 64' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould City going long There is definitely an increase in the number of balls Ederson is clipping towards Foden and Haaland as City try and beat Burnley's press. It's worked a couple of times already. Share Comments 60' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould Burnley double change OFF: Amdouni, Koleosho ON: Zaroury, Larsen Share Comments 60' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould CHANCE! City spring as a long ball to Foden which is flicked onto Haaland, who is all of a sudden 1v1. He slips Alvarez in but the Argentinian's shot is sliced wide. Share Comments 59' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould More possession City again just trying to quieten the home crowd by knocking the ball around. Really showing their experience here in what has been a really tough game thus far. (Image: 2023 Lexy Ilsley - Manchester City) Share Comments 55' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould Long-range effort from Rodri The midfielder picks the ball up around halfway and fires an effort at Trafford from all of 35-yards. Tipped over for another City corner, which is headed straight at the keeper from Rodri again. Share Comments 53' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould CHANCE Haaland played in behind by Alvarez but is at an angle. His effort deflects off O'Shea and out for a corner, which goes out for another corner as Foden attempts an overhead kick. Share Comments 52' - BUR 0-2 MCI Simon Bajkowski Burnley on top Burnley have not started this half like a defeated team, they’re looking for a way back into it. With Haaland lurking waiting for his hat-trick though, they will have to be careful when they go forward. Share Comments 49' - BUR 0-2 MCI Kyle Newbould Burnley picking up where they left off Kompany's side keeping the ball well and trying to work an opening. City just settling in. Share Comments