Manchester City continued their march towards the Premier League title with a victory at Turf Moor, moving Pep Guardiola’s side to the top of the table and relegating Burnley to the Championship.
City have found form at the right time and appear to be in a bad mood, clawing back nine points on Arsenal in less than two weeks to narrowly lead the league in goals scored.
Guardiola’s side had not been in the top spot since the first week of the season, but an 11-game unbeaten streak has seen them overtake the Gunners with five games remaining.
Erling Haaland, the top scorer, opened the scoring after only five minutes, sprinting away after Jeremy Doku’s ball and dinking a wonderful finish over the advancing Martin Dubravka, and he hit the post in the second half.
The visitors could have scored moments before, but Dubravka expertly deflected Rayan Cherki’s powerful drive onto the crossbar.
City were wasting chances in front of goal, knowing that goal difference would be important in May, with Nico O’Reilly’s header saved by Dubravka and Rayan Ait-Nouri blazing over following a beautiful team move.
The Clarets, however, had chances to extend the season, with Jaidon Anthony cutting inside and curling a shot toward goal that Gianluigi Donnarumma saved, while Zian Flemming dragged wide from a good position.
However, the result means Scott Parker’s team will join bottom club Wolves in the second division next season, sliding into the Championship for the second time in three years.
