Liverpool sit as the leader of the Premier League, but the first favorite for the title remains the champion, Manchester City. The Cityzens played hot and cold at the end of last year, but Pep Guardiola’s team seems to be getting into form in the most important part of the season. Last week, Tottenham were defeated in the FA Cup, and the champion of England and Europe tied three victories in the Premier League.🔙 to @premierleague business 🆚 Burnley! 👊#ManCity pic.twitter.com/0rygZT5RDy— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 31, 2024 Weak Burnley come to the Etihad tonight (10.30 PM EAT), so there should be no problem for the European and English champions. The visitors have as many as seven points less than Luton, who are the first above the relegation zone. After a two-month break, Norwegian Erling Haaland returns to the team. His foot had been bothering him for a long time. Guardiola confirmed that the top scorer of the Premier League last season will be in the team. It remains to be seen if he will start the match or if he will get a chance from the bench.”When I have the whole team at my disposal, we are definitely stronger, and Erling is a very important player for us,” Guardiola said and added: “Two months is a lot, it’s a long break, but it feels good”.Jesus and Saka find way out of Forest for unconvincing GunnersGuardiola has all the players at his disposal. The only one under question is the Swiss defender Manuel Akanji.Vincent Kompany will play against a team in which he has the status of a legend. For a long time he was a pillar of the Etihad team, and then he started his coaching career in Anderlecht. The Belgian did not make a name for himself in Brussels but last season he was great in his debut season on the bench of the Clarets. He returned Burnley to the elite after the long era of Sean Dyche at the helm of this club. The Belgian expert confirmed that the season for Nathan Redmond is over.Elsewhere, Tottenham welcome Brentford at home and are fighting to stay in the game for fourth place and the Champions League. The Bees this season are not even like the team of the previous two campaigns, but the return of Ivan Toney after an eight-month break instilled confidence in the team of Danish expert Thomas Frank. The English striker immediately rattled Nottingham Forest’s net in a 3-2 victory.Frank will fight fire with fireThe Spurs will still play without the first star Heung Min Son, who is with South Korea at the Asian Cup. Bissouma and Sarr are at the AFCON, Solomon is out of action for a long time due to injury, as is Argentinean Veliz.The team from Gtech Community Stadium has a large number of absences. Mbeumo, Onyeka and Wissa are with their national teams at the Cup of African Nations, Ghoddos is with Iran at the Asian Cup, while Hickey, Henry, Reguilon and Schade are injured.In the first part of the championship, there was no winner in the duel between the city rivals – 2-2. In the four previous matches of these rivals, four or more goals were scored.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 22TuesdayNott. Forest – Arsenal 1-2 (0-0)/Awoniyi 89 – Jesus , Saka /Fulham – Everton 0-0Luton – Brighton 4-0 (3-0)/Adebayo 1, 42, 56, Ogbene 3/Crystal Palace – Sheffield Utd 3-2 (2-2)/Eze 17, 27, Olise 67 – Diaz 1, McAtee 20/Aston Villa – Newcastle 1-3 (0-2)/Watkins 71 – Schar 32, 36, Moreno 52 og/Wednesday22:30 (1.70) Tottenham (3.90) Brentford (4.90)22:30 (1.10) Manchester City (11.0) Burnley (18.0)23:15 (1.63) Liverpool (4.20) Chelsea (5.70)Thursday22:30 (2.50) West Ham (3.50) Bournemouth (2.95)23:15 (2.85) Wolverhampton (3.50) Manchester United (2.55)***odds are subject to change
