Jack Grealish returns, Rico Lewis into midfield – Predicted XI: Manchester City vs Burnley (Premier League)

Manchester City return to action in the Premier League after a two-week absence from the competition, as they welcome Burnley to the Etihad Stadium.

The Vincent Kompany-led Clarets will travel to Manchester on Wednesday night in desperate need of momentum, after winning just one of their last five matches and only three in their first 21 Premier League games this season.

Manchester City, on the other hand, come into the clash in fine fettle, having remained unbeaten in their last 10 games. Pep Guardiola’s men sit just five points behind current Premier League leaders Liverpool, with a game in hand over the Anfield outfit.

The month of February will see Manchester City’s fixtures begin to pile-up after a quiet January, as the UEFA Champions League returns with a round of 16 match-up against Danish side FC Copenhagen.

The Blues will need to collect all three points against Burnley to round out January however. After a win against Tottenham Hotspur last time out in FA Cup action, let’s see how Pep Guardiola may set his side up!

Predicted XI

Ederson should return in between the sticks after a nasty leg contusion forced the Brazilian off against Newcastle United last time out in the Premier League, and Stefan Ortega took up his usual cup position against Tottenham last week.

Kyle Walker will likely keep his spot at right-back after a solid showing against his former team last week, whilst also hoping to shake off the mixed public reaction to his interview surrounding his personal life.

Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake will remain together in the centre of defence, and mostly due to Pep Guardiola being somewhat restricted in his options with Manuel Akanji only just completing his rehabilitation period and John Stones still getting back up to full speed.

Josko Gvardiol was impressive in stretches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday night, and the Croatian will remain in at left-back, though Pep Guardiola doesn’t really have any other serious choice for that role.

Rodri, obviously.

The changes from Spurs will now start to come as Phil Foden and Rico Lewis will join Rodri in the centre of the park, operating in the advanced attacking midfield roles hoping to create Burnley problems in the pockets.

Moving into the attacking ranks, and with Erling Haaland unlikely to be risked from the very start of this one despite his return to the matchday squad, we expect Julian Alvarez to remain in the lone striker role this week.

Either side of the Argentine international and we anticipate that Bernardo Silva will operate from the right, and Jack Grealish will return to attack from the left of a front-three. The four or five attackers will be quite fluid as usual however.

Starting XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Lewis, Foden; Bernardo, Alvarez, Grealish.

Substitutes: Ortega, Stones, Gomez, Nunes, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Bobb, Doku, Haaland.