Manchester City go top of Premier League on goals scored as Burnley relegated
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Manchester City's Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the match against Burnley.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Manchester City moved top of the Premier League after a 1-0 win at Burnley, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal.
- The defeat officially relegated Burnley to the Championship for the third time in five seasons, as manager Scott Parker noted quality issues.
- With five games left, the title race remains poised; City face a tougher run-in. Bournemouth's European challenge was dented by a 2-2 draw.
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LONDON – With goal difference potentially playing a part in the English Premier League title race, Pep Guardiola felt that Manchester City should have been more clinical even as they edged ahead of Arsenal at the top, following a 1-0 victory at Burnley on April 22.
City’s victory also confirmed the Clarets’ third Premier League relegation in five seasons, consigning them to the Championship, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers next season.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Guardiola’s men ended the day top of the table for the first time since August, but the City boss was frustrated at his side’s inability to win by a greater margin.
They are level with the Gunners on 70 points with the same goal difference of 37, and go ahead only on goals scored – 66 to 63 – with five games left for both teams.
“We played a really good game, unfortunately we missed a lot of chances. We defended better in the second half. Second half, we had less problems,” Guardiola, whose side face Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals on April 25, told Sky Sports.
“It was such a demanding game on Sunday (beating Arsenal 2-1). It is not easy after three days but in the Premier League you have to adjust. We are used to doing it. We competed really well, we made a really good game but it’s a pity the chances we had.”
City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to win a seventh league title in nine years.
Fresh from beating Arsenal in what was billed as a title decider on April 19, they roared out of the blocks.
Haaland was set free by Jeremy Doku and coolly chipped over advancing goalkeeper Martin Dubravka with just five minutes on the clock.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scoring the game’s only goal past Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
PHOTO: ACTION IMAGES VIA REUTERS
City continued to pepper Dubravka with efforts from distance, but Guardiola grew visibly angry as they let the tempo drop in their pursuit of more goals.
Burnley could have been level by half-time as Zian Flemming dragged a glorious chance wide.
Haaland hit the post after the break, but City’s failure to rack up a more convincing scoreline leaves the title race tantalisingly poised.
At the other end of the table, Burnley have to rebuild once more in the second tier.
A return of just 20 points from 34 games has left Scott Parker’s men 13 adrift of safety with only four games remaining.
“We’ve fallen a bit short. The facts are we had to overachieve this year and we’ve not managed to do that,” said the manager.
“In certain moments we’ve lacked a certain quality about us and not managed to get enough points.” AFP, REUTERS
