Reality check for Burnley

The 2023-24 Premier League season gets underway on Friday, with newly-promoted Burnley welcoming defending champions Manchester City to Turf Moor in the curtain-raiser.

Pep Guardiola’s side clinched a third successive Premier League crown last term, meaning they have won five of the previous six titles.

Having suffered relegation in 2021-22, Burnley made an immediate return to the Premier League, breaking all kinds of records in the process.

Indeed, the Clarets lost just three of their 46 Championship matches last season, picking up 29 wins and 14 draws along the way. As a result, they collected a whopping 101 points.

On top of that, Burnley posted the best offensive record and the best defensive record in the division, scoring 87 goals while conceding just 35.

Vincent Kompany’s side have experienced an indifferent pre-season, winning only one of their four warm-up matches while suffering two defeats.

Following a record-breaking Championship campaign, Man City legend Kompany will surely be eager to get one over on his former club.

As for Manchester City, they head into Friday’s showdown on the back of a penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield.

Cole Palmer’s 77th-minute strike appeared to have won the game for City, but Leandro Trossard’s deflected 101st-minute equaliser took the tie to penalties.

However, Guardiola’s men snatched the Premier League title from Arsenal last season, winning 12 of their final 14 matches while watching the Gunners falter.

After winning the Champions League, Man City claimed friendly victories over Yokohama F. Marinos and Bayern Munich before ending pre-season with a defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Reality check for Burnley

Head-to-head: When Burnley and Manchester City met in the FA Cup last season, Guardiola’s men thrashed the Clarets 6-0.

Consequently, Man City have won each of their previous 11 meetings with Burnley, scoring 40 goals while conceding a solitary goal in the process.