(Premier League 2023/2024): Highlights Burnley - Manchester City

So the Premier League never lets anyone bask in the glory of recent successes and City know that to retain their crown they will again have to be both concentrated and largely faultless from the first minute in August to the final minute in May. Today's first examination at Burnley is unlikely to be a formality regardless of the Blues' stunning recent record against them. Remember they have won the last 11 games against Burnley in a row. Just looking at the colour of City's shorts it's not too different to the claret of Burnley's shirts as City win the ball back. It's played into the area and De Bruyne just about gets there with O'Shea behind him and the Blues have won their first corner, indeed the match's first corner. It's been a great start if we can get something from this. It's a corner that's drilled in low, Phil Foden's kept it alive he keeps it towards Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne puts in a second cross it's deep, Rodri pulls away and City do score. Haaland's first touch of the new Premier League season finds its way into the back of the Burnley net. I'm absolutely gobsmacked but at the same time not the least bit surprised are you really surprised well it's only this man who can do it again but it comes down to training ground understanding set pieces and when this man gets the ball Kevin De Bruyne something happens in these key areas Rodri keeps it alive off that deep cross and that's where he comes alive Erling Haaland on that left foot just steps across nobody tight as he guides into the corner who said it could be a great start but not only for City for the big man Haaland to get off the mark. Ake plays it back to Akanji and Akanji on the halfway line plays it back to Ake and Ake into the gap for Foden and Foden there's lovely rhythm about City here and De Bruyne tries it from distance it's over the top of the bar and well it was a decent attempt but it was never dropping and it goes over the bar. The ball's gone out wide to De Bruyne in the crossing position it's a great ball in it's headed away by O'Shea picked up by Rodri on the edge of the area De Bruyne again in space puts in another ball Haaland missed it but it was a difficult one and all he could do was throw his right boot at it no control over it and it goes out of play for a goal kick but again really good play and again a really good ball in from De Bruyne. The ball's gone back to Trafford he's under pressure as well and I think he's done well to get it out to Conor Roberts but City will win the ball back Rodri on to De Bruyne, De Bruyne towards the final third on towards Haaland Haaland lost the ball though. Just watching Kevin De Bruyne I think he's got a problem you know I think something's happened with Kevin De Bruyne he doesn't look ideal he just had his hand up yeah something went on him I just seen his initial reaction he was uncomfortable didn't like the look of that when he pulled up so sudden. Well let's just hope it's uh one of those things where it's not quite as bad as your initial feeling and off comes De Bruyne and on comes Kovacic and of course Premier League debut for City but certainly not a Premier League debut period of course he was at Chelsea for five years. Kanji on to Lewis, Lewis oh he's lost it and now a chance for Burnley a real chance and Rodri made the tackle well Lewis just got caught in possession and it was coming through for Amdouni and all of a sudden he was on towards Edison but Rodri just about stepped in and it was just as well he did. Burnley have had two or three positive moments and they're gonna have another one and Foster's into the penalty area and he's still going and he gets his shot beyond Edison beyond the post and out for a goal kick. Terrific play by the South African very unlucky final third Foden's got it under a bit of pressure he holds off a challenge keeps going wide Alvarez helps him out on it goes to Walker back to Foden into Kovacic, Kovacic on towards Foden, Foden on the half turn lovely pirouette and Trafford did brilliantly came out met him grabbed the ball but lovely from Foden up to the point where Trafford came and stopped him great touch look at the ability awareness on the half turn Phil Foden at times just looks really really good just attractive to the eye just things no one else can do. Foden wide to the right to Walker Walker goes back to Akanji, Sidi appeared to have got control of this match again after a three or four minute spell in which Burnley had a few good moments now down the right hand side Walker crossing position on it goes to Alvarez near the penalty spot Haaland hits the back of the net can you believe it of course you can believe it it's Erling Haaland again that was a special goal team goal everybody involved moving it around the overlap come late from Kyle Walker Alvarez then involved but we talk about finishes you're talking about taking chances and opportunities but this is an incredible finish leaning back away from goal it looks sensational it is sensational what a goal again we can't say any more about this guy City just need to up it slightly get this third goal as soon as possible they're going to try and get it Haaland's in the penalty area and you think well that's a good tackle you've got to give credit to O'Shea he came across Haaland was getting ready to unleash the left foot drive and at the point at which he connected with the ball O'Shea got there in the nick of time and concedes the corner now Edison's gone long again towards Haaland who brought it down but as he did Bayer was there in the nick of time but Edison clearly is looking for that ball quickly up the middle towards Haaland now City win the ball back they do with Walker on it goes to Rodri, Rodri going forward unleashes the shot it was on target and helped over the crossbar by Trafford well he's had an assist already tonight Rodri he very nearly had a goal but Trafford always in control helps it over for a corner it's Rodri's header again good save by Trafford right on the line Rodri seems to be everywhere Edison again in possession of the ball he scoops a pass forward up towards Foden on it goes to Haaland, Haaland strong he's got the chance to come forward he lays it off to Alvarez, Alvarez hits it wide it's a good little combination that on to Haaland, Haaland this time had the strength to hold off O'Shea laid it into the path of Alvarez but it was too narrow an angle in the end and Alvarez put it wide if Haaland just waits that touch longer Rico Lewis down that left-hand side might have been a different option but Alvarez actually good overlap just couldn't get any direction in the strike as Haaland is clipped from behind as he tried to get away from Al Dakil deep in discussion with Juan Malilo back at City again now his assistant head coach so it's a City free kick in a crossing position as Foden delivers and there's a bit of a tangle and Ake almost gets there and Rodri does well I've been singing his praises since the very start of the game he has an assist now he has a goal he's been absolutely outstanding today and I think maybe in that moment he's probably cemented the man of the match award City three Burnley nil Rodri on target it's the simplest of finishes but it's all about the attacking threat the goal at the start of it bit of a shirt pull on Ake that's what he just says thank you very much off goes Rico Lewis on comes the debutant all Walker's been caught there he was racing forward and he got caught and he's in a lot of trouble and I don't like the look of that at all Walker was sprinting away at pace well he's used his pace he just takes the extra touch and it's right on the side I mean VR might have a little look at that because of the height of where the challenge is right on the back of Michael Oliver is the referee back at Stopley Park and he's recommended to Craig Pawson that there might be a potential to upgrade to a red card so Burnley's predicament is worsened and off goes the Royal City have grabbed the three points with three goals and of course it means that the Blues have begun the defense of their Premier League crown in style with a three-nil win at Turf Moor, two for Harlan, one for Rodri, three points for the Blues, Burnley nil, City three