Man City v Burnley: Team news published at 14:12 BST 27 September
14:12 BST 27 September
Manchester City make six changes to the side that won at Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
The major team news sees the return of striker Erling Haaland up front, after the Norwegian missed the trip to West Yorkshire because of a back injury.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku all start with James Trafford on the bench against his old club, while John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and Divine Mukasa all drop out.
Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Savinho, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Burnley boss Scott Parker reverts to his strongest XI after their shock Carabao Cup defeat by League One Cardiff City.
Former City captain Kyle Walker makes a return to Etihad Stadium where he enjoyed eight trophy-filled years under Pep Guardiola.
The likes of Armando Broja, Hannibal Mejbri, Marcus Edwards and Axel Tuanzebe drop out of the starting line-up.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Sunderland", for instance.
Man City v Burnley: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 18:58 BST 26 September
18:58 BST 26 September
Noel Sliney BBC Sport senior journalist
BBC Sport examines some of the main talking points as Manchester City prepare to host Burnley on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola spoke this week of his City side "recovering many, many things that last season we were missing", but statistically they have made their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 2006.
City are ninth in the table, eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool. They have been in the lead for 54% of their total minutes played, more than any other side, yet have only won two of five league games.
There has been heavy scrutiny of Sunday's draw at Arsenal, when City's 32.8% share of possession was the lowest of Guardiola's 601 top-flight matches as a manager. The Catalan admits the increasingly daring approach of opposition sides has forced him to adapt tactically after years of City dominating through patient build-up play.
There are clear signs amid Manchester City's stuttering start that they are developing new weapons. By defending deeper, they have been able to create space for Erling Haaland and others on the counter-attack; City have scored a league-high three goals this season from breakaway attacks which started in their own half. That is already as many as in the whole of 2024-25, and one more than in 2023-24.
On Saturday, City are likely to revert to familiar ways against a Burnley side with the division's lowest average possession figure of 34%. Furthermore, City have won the past 13 meetings by an aggregate score of 46-2, which is the fifth longest winning run in their history against one side.
Testing start for promoted Burnley
Burnley have not triumphed in 19 league visits to Manchester City, since a 5-2 victory in March 1963.
Scott Parker's side have endured a predictably tough start to the season, compounded by Tuesday's EFL Cup home defeat by Cardiff City. An unforgiving Premier League fixture list means they have already played Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Burnley have faced the most shots (95) in the division, with summer signing Martin Dubravka making an unrivalled 19 saves so far.
Dubravka has also launched 61 goal-kicks into the opposition's half, more than twice as many as any other team. That strategy is a far cry from two seasons ago when Vincent Kompany's promoted Burnley side stuck to their short-passing principles. They only took four points from their opening 13 games and finished second bottom.
The current team have the same tally after five matches – will their eventual fate be any different?
'A day I will never forget' - O'Reillypublished at 18:08 BST 26 September
18:08 BST 26 September
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City midfielder Nico O'Reilly says it is "just the beginning" after signing a new deal with the club.
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract to extend his stay until 2030, having come through the City academy.
He broke into the first team last season when he was asked to play in the unfamiliar left-back role during the side's injury crisis.
O'Reilly has made 27 appearance in total, including six this campaign, scoring five goals and providing two assists.
"This is a day I will never forget," he told told club media.
"I have been at City since the age of eight, and to have made it into the first team and have played matches is a dream come true. To be rewarded with a new contract really is special.
"I am really proud and so is my mum! She has sacrificed so much to get me to where I am today, so I am just as happy for her as I am for myself.
"But, in truth, this is just the beginning for me. I have come so far, but I want to keep pushing now, improving every day, and become the best player I can be."
Guardiola on Haaland fitness, Walker return and having to 'adapt'published at 13:26 BST 26 September
13:26 BST 26 September
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Burnley at Etihad Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Guardiola confirmed Erling Haaland "is ready" for the game after concerns over a back injury in his last match.
On further team news, he added: "Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki, no [they are not ready]. Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov, no [they are not ready]. Mateo Kovacic, maybe. [It would help] a lot to have Kova back. It's a long injury, surgery, but he is getting ready. He is not fully ready."
The City boss is "pretty sure everyone will be happy" to see Kyle Walker's return to the Etihad and he "absolutely deserves" the fans' gratitude.
He added: "One of the greatest in terms of consistency - no injuries and playing every single game. An incredible figure in the locker room. In eight, nine years - six Premier Leagues, a Champions League, 18 titles maybe, always being there in good moments and bad moments. The last season was tough for everyone, but I don't judge one behaviour over a short period of time. He was unbelievable."
On Phil Foden returning to form: "Phil always took responsibility. He won everything since he started playing and training with us when he was 17 or 18. The biggest example was after he played Arsenal. Everybody was exhausted and tired because we ran a lot, we parked the bus and so on. But Phil said: 'I want to play again.' It's what happened when he arrived. He wants to play every day and that is a sign he is ready."
Guardiola said forward Savinho "created a lot" last season but was "too hectic" in front of goal: "The moment he learns that - because he is so young - the more he will improve. He'll be a top-class player because he can play on both sides. He's got the speed and the work ethic. Savio will make this step - naturally it will come and he will be a top player for Manchester City."
On if he is expecting a low block from Burnley: "No, it depends. At the beginning of the season, everyone is so brave. During the season, all of us managers see the table, get scared and after that we adapt a little bit. In the past we were maybe more sure, but we will see tomorrow. We have to adapt."
Analysis: Foden returning towards his bestpublished at 07:52 BST 25 September
07:52 BST 25 September
Shamoon Hafez Manchester City reporter
Image source, Getty Images
There was a time when Manchester City were perennial winners in this competition, lifting the trophy four times on the trot having embarked on a run of winning a remarkable 21 consecutive ties between 2017 and 2021.
But it has been less kind to them recently, being knocked out at the fourth and third-round stages in the past two seasons.
On Wednesday, there were some scares for City to overcome, including Huddersfield Town hitting the post, but they were ultimately in control for the majority of the contest and goals in each half helped them through.
Pep Guardiola's tactics at Arsenal on Sunday were questioned when his side had their lowest average possession since he took charge, but City reverted to type with 76% of the ball in West Yorkshire, with 68 touches inside the opposition area.
Despite the numbers, City could only score twice with Savinho dragging wide before scoring, Nico O'Reilly's chipped effort being clawed out by Lee Nicholls and Divine Mukasa's strike on the spin straight at the home goalkeeper.
At the heart of the victory was the fantastic Phil Foden, who looks to be returning to his best form by playing with the sort of freedom that earned him the Premier League Player of the Season and the PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2024.
The goal he scored bore all the trademarks of a player who was sharp and needed no thinking time, trapping Mukasa's pass before giving Nicholls no chance with his finish.
Foden was replaced immediately after providing the second goal as Guardiola gave debuts to Reigan and Jaden Heskey, the sons of former Liverpool and England striker Emile.
There was also a return to the team for forgotten midfielder Kalvin Phillips, appearing for the final seven minutes for the first time in a City shirt since 19 December 2023 at the Club World Cup.
You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Huddersfield v Man City" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Port Vale v Arsenal", for instance.
Is EFL Cup now a hindrance for Guardiola?published at 11:21 BST 24 September
11:21 BST 24 September
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City dominated the League Cup during the early years of Pep Guardiola's reign, lifting the trophy in four of his first five seasons in charge.
Remarkably, City won 21 consecutive ties in the competition between 2017 and 2021 (with two-legged semi-finals counted as a single 'tie'). But it has been a different story since then, with Guardiola's team losing four of their subsequent seven EFL Cup games.
That is partly a result of shifting priorities. The City manager said 12 months ago he didn't intend to "waste energy" in the competition and would instead field his "second team", vowing to prioritise the Premier League and Champions League.
The Spaniard still picked a fairly strong side for last season's fourth-round exit to Tottenham, albeit he didn't risk star striker Erling Haaland, keeping him on the bench.
With City having taken part in this summer's Club World Cup and the expanded Champions League format also meaning more matches, Guardiola will be acutely aware of the need to manage the minutes played by his squad and reduce the risk of late-season burnout.