Premier League leaders Manchester City were confident of stretching the gap at top of the table when they visited a struggling Burnley side at Turf Moor who despite a scintillating inception, failed to keep up the momentum and failed to win a single game in their last 9 outings. City, although lost their domestic ‘invincible’ status to Liverpool, are back to winning ways from the very next outing but this afternoon clash against the Clarets proved to be a tough away outing for the visitors who only settled for a 1-1 draw following Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s late equalizer.
Below are the Manchester City players rated in their disappointing draw against the Clarets.
Ederson: 7.5
The Brazilian was highly untested during the first-half but made a great stop (with little help from the woodwork) to deny Aaron Lennon from equalizing midway in the second half. He, however, had no chance to put Gudmundsson’s strike away as the Icelandic wingman netted a late equalizer to snatch a victory away from the league leaders.
Kyle Walker: 6.5
His attacking attributes must not be questioned but once again offered very little defensively when the hosts reacted late in the game and pushed forward in search of an equalizer. The English international could have offered more defensively in closing minutes.
Vincent Kompany: 6
Injury-riddled Kompany started the game and didn’t have much trouble for the majority of the game. But the Belgian looked troubled at times when the Clarets were constituting counter-attacking threats and his mistake almost cost his side if Ederson had not parried away Aaron Lennon’s strike. The skipper had a nervy outing overall and could not register a clean-sheet due to Gudmundsson’s late equalizer.
Nicolas Otamendi: 6.5
Otamendi maintained great passing accuracy and did well defensively by winning duels, making clearances and interceptions. Looked a bit uncomfortable to deal with Burnley’s crosses and long balls inside the box and eventually conceded from the same when Gudmundsson made no mistake to put it into the back of the net from substitute Matthew Lowton’s pin-point cross.
Danilo: 8.5
Scored a stunner with a curling strike from 25 yards out and almost repeated the same but got denied by Nick Pope, the Burnley custodian, on that occasion. He was a constant threat down the left-hand flank and linked up beautifully upfront.
Fernandinho: 6.5
Impressed with his passes and held the shape of the midfield from a slightly deeper role. Had moments of discomfort late in the game when Burnley pressed high up the pitch to hit back and avoid another defeat.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7
Gundogan had a lively first 60 minutes but faded off lately with some heavy touches and mistimed runs. He, nevertheless, has been impressive as David Silva’s deputy and is slowing getting used to the Premier League environment shaking off injury nightmares.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8.5
Was unlucky not to grab all three points from a game that he dominated throughout. He made tireless runs, kept on changing flanks and creating opportunities upfront repeatedly. The attackers, however, let him down and the Belgian sensation only had to accept a draw which he thoroughly deserved to win.
Raheem Sterling: 5.5
The Englishman might have scored plenty of goals this season but his misses cost the Citizens this afternoon and the opportunity he wasted in the second half might end up as the miss of this Premier League campaign when he failed to direct his strike into an empty net from six yards. He was taken off minutes after the howler and looked dejected when his side had to settle for a draw following a late Burnley goal that came after his exit.
Bernardo Silva: 8
The Portuguese attacker is earning first-team minutes in absence of injured Leroy Sane and kept on impressing the gaffer with his movements down the right-hand flank. He assisted Danilo’s majestic goal and also created a few more opportunities for his fellow attackers.
Sergio Aguero: 6
The Argentine was not at his best this afternoon despite his clever runs inside the box. He could not offer enough in attack to take the game beyond Burnley’s reach.
Substitutes
Brahim Diaz: 6
Came on as Sterling’s replacement. The impressive youngster, however, could not make any noteworthy contribution.
