Burnley -v- Manchester City: Where can I watch it and what do I need to know?

Venue: Turf Moor

Kick-off: Friday night, 8pm

Broadcast: Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League

The 2023/24 Premier League season is set for a Friday night start as last season's Championship winners, Burnley, host the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League winners, Manchester City, at Turf Moor.

Both teams carry the badge of champions, but from different echelons of English football, promising a mouthwatering clash to kick off the campaign.

Burnley:

Vincent Kompany’s side demonstrated their championship mettle by storming through the Championship last season. The return to the Premier League promises a renewed energy at Turf Moor, especially with the full house expected for this Friday night clash.

The Clarets' preparations for the season have seen some changes in personnel. In recent days midfielder Sander Berge has joined the squad, and winger Manuel Benson has put pen to paper on a new four-year deal.

While their pre-season comprised of eight fixtures with just two losses, their impressive win against last season’s Primeira Liga Champions Benfica stands out. Josh Brownhill ended pre-season for Burnley as top scorer with three goals. 

Manager's Thoughts: Kompany remains optimistic and ambitious ahead of the tie, stating, "We play against such a good opponent... but probably the best challenge you could ever have. The start of the season is about building cohesion... we are well aware of the threats that City have."

Pre-season Form Scan: W W W W L W D L

Manchester City:

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have been the dominant force in English football, capturing five of the last six Premier League titles.

Their summer business was marked by the additions of midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea and young defender Josko Gvardiol from Red Bull Leipzig.

However, City also bid goodbye to notable players, with Ilkay Gundogan moving to Barcelona and Riyad Mahrez transferring to Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.

City's pre-season concluded with a loss to Arsenal in the FA Community Shield, decided by a penalty shootout. However, their performance against clubs like Yokohama Marinos and Bayern Munich on their Asian tour highlighted their readiness for the season.

Manager's Thoughts: Guardiola expects a challenging game at Turf Moor. He said, "Normally the first games are difficult. Vinny [Kompany] knows us well. He's done an incredible job, changing Burnley's playing style. It will be a tough game."

Pre-season Form Scan: W W L 

Last Encounters:

The two sides locked horns just five months ago in the FA Cup quarter-finals, a tie which City dominated with a scoreline of 6-1, led by Erling Haaland’s hat-trick.

Team News:

Burnley: Recent signing Michael Obafemi will miss the clash due to a hamstring injury. 

Manchester City: Nathan Ake is confirmed to return from injury and is available for selection. Guardiola will likely have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Where to Watch:

For those who couldn’t get tickets to the sold-out Turf Moor clash, the match will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League.

There will also be live audio commentary available on Clarets+ with Phil Bird and George Boyd starting 15 minutes before kick-off.

Head-to-Head:

In their 110 competitive clashes, Manchester City emerged victorious 55 times, while Burnley secured 25 wins. The other 30 encounters ended in draws. Notably, Burnley's last triumph over City was a close 1-0 win in March 2015, marking a 17-game streak without a win for the Clarets.

From 2000 onwards, City have netted an impressive 77 goals against Burnley, who managed just 14 in return. During this period, the Mancunians have claimed 18 victories, settled for three draws, and suffered a solitary defeat.