Burnley vs Manchester City Head-to-Head: Last 10 Meetings & Results

Burnley host Manchester City at Turf Moor on April 22, 2026, in a Premier League fixture carrying major consequences at both ends of the table.

Manchester City enter the match second with 67 points from 32 games, just three points behind leaders Arsenal and with a game in hand. Pep Guardiola's side therefore know exactly what victory would mean: three points at Turf Moor would take them to the top of the Premier League.

Burnley's situation is considerably more desperate. Scott Parker's team sit 19th with only 20 points from 33 matches and are running out of opportunities to avoid an immediate return to the Championship. Their survival hopes are hanging by a thread, making every remaining game effectively a must-win contest.

History offers Burnley little encouragement. Manchester City have completely dominated this fixture in recent seasons and arrive having won 11 consecutive Premier League meetings against the Clarets.

Burnley vs Manchester City: Last 10 Premier League Meetings

The previous 10 Premier League meetings before April 22, 2026 produced a perfect record for Manchester City.

Across those matches:

Manchester City wins: 10
Burnley wins: 0
Draws: 0
Manchester City goals: 32
Burnley goals: 3
Total goals: 35
Average goals per match: 3.5

The previous 10 league results were:

Manchester City 5-1 Burnley — September 2025
Manchester City 3-1 Burnley — January 2024
Burnley 0-3 Manchester City — August 2023
Burnley 0-2 Manchester City — April 2022
Manchester City 2-0 Burnley — October 2021
Burnley 0-2 Manchester City — February 2021
Manchester City 5-0 Burnley — November 2020
Manchester City 5-0 Burnley — June 2020
Burnley 1-4 Manchester City — December 2019
Burnley 0-1 Manchester City — April 2019

The numbers underline the scale of Burnley's challenge.

City did not simply win all 10 games. They kept seven clean sheets and scored three or more goals in six of the meetings.

Manchester City's Dominance Goes Beyond the Last 10

The pattern becomes even clearer when the sample is expanded. Manchester City entered the April 2026 fixture having won 11 consecutive Premier League games against Burnley, which the club's own Opta-supported analysis identified as Burnley's longest losing sequence against any opponent in their history.

Across the broader Premier League rivalry, City had lost only two of their previous 28 league games against the Clarets, winning 23 and drawing three. They had also scored five or more goals against Burnley in five different Premier League matches — matching the highest number of five-goal performances by one team against another in the competition. It is difficult to find a more one-sided recent head-to-head record in the Premier League.

Manchester City Won the Reverse Fixture 5-1

The most recent meeting before this article took place at the Etihad Stadium on September 27, 2025, when Manchester City won 5-1. Burnley remained competitive for much of the first hour, and Jaidon Anthony scored to make it 1-1 before half-time.

City eventually took control. Two Maxime Estève own goals contributed to Burnley's problems, while Matheus Nunes scored and Erling Haaland added two late goals to turn what had been a relatively competitive match into another emphatic City victory.

The result extended City's winning streak against Burnley and demonstrated the danger the Clarets face if they allow Guardiola's team to build sustained pressure.

Turf Moor Has Offered Burnley Little Protection

Home advantage would normally provide some encouragement to a relegation-threatened team, but Burnley's recent record at Turf Moor was a major concern. They entered this fixture without a win in their previous 12 Premier League home matches. Only once in Burnley's league history had they endured a longer winless run at Turf Moor.

Their recent home meetings with Manchester City were similarly difficult:

Burnley 0-3 Manchester City — August 2023
Burnley 0-2 Manchester City — April 2022
Burnley 0-2 Manchester City — February 2021
Burnley 1-4 Manchester City — December 2019
Burnley 0-1 Manchester City — April 2019

Burnley failed to score in four of those five games. That means the home crowd alone is unlikely to change the matchup. The Clarets need a significant improvement in both defensive concentration and attacking efficiency.

Burnley's Survival Situation Was Becoming Desperate

Burnley's return to the Premier League had proved extremely difficult. After 33 matches, Parker's side had collected only 20 points and sat 19th in the table. Manchester City's pre-match analysis suggested Burnley would effectively need to win all five of their remaining fixtures to have any realistic chance of staying up.

Their previous game only increased the pressure. Burnley travelled to Nottingham Forest on April 19 and suffered a 4-1 defeat, with Morgan Gibbs-White scoring a second-half hat-trick for Forest. That left the Clarets facing Manchester City knowing another defeat could effectively end their survival hopes.

Burnley's Defensive Record Was the Biggest Concern

Burnley's problems were particularly severe defensively. They had conceded 67 Premier League goals, the worst total in the division at that stage of the season. Of those, 62 had been scored from inside the penalty area.

They had also developed a habit of conceding at dangerous moments. Burnley had allowed 11 goals during the opening 15 minutes of matches, the worst record in the Premier League, and another 17 during the final 15 minutes. Those statistics are especially concerning against Manchester City.

Guardiola's team can punish opponents immediately if they begin slowly, but they are equally capable of maintaining pressure until tired defenders make mistakes late in games. Burnley therefore need concentration for the entire 90 minutes.

Burnley Had Also Struggled to Create Chances

The problems were not confined to defence. Burnley had scored 34 goals in 33 Premier League matches, leaving them among the lowest-scoring teams in the division. They had also attempted fewer shots than any other Premier League team.

That creates an obvious problem against City. Burnley are unlikely to dominate possession, so the opportunities they do create must be used efficiently. They cannot afford to waste clear chances and expect several more to arrive later.

Zian Flemming Was Burnley's Main Goal Threat

One positive for the Clarets was the form of Zian Flemming. Flemming entered the fixture as Burnley's leading league scorer with 10 goals from 27 appearances, including four goals across his previous six games.

His finishing gives Burnley a player capable of producing something even when the team is not creating chances consistently. Jaidon Anthony had also contributed seven league goals and had already scored against Manchester City in the reverse fixture.

For Burnley to threaten City, those players may need to make the most of counterattacks, set pieces and isolated moments rather than expecting long periods of attacking control.

Scott Parker's Tactical Challenge

Burnley had primarily used a 4-2-3-1 during the season, although Parker had altered his structure depending on the opposition. Against Manchester City, the challenge is finding a balance between defensive protection and maintaining enough attacking presence to pose a threat.

Sitting extremely deep may reduce the space available behind the defensive line, but it also allows City to maintain constant pressure around Burnley's penalty area. Becoming too aggressive creates the opposite problem.

If Burnley commit players forward and City play through the press, Haaland and City's wide attackers could have enormous spaces to exploit. Parker therefore needs his team to remain compact without becoming completely passive.

Manchester City Could Go Top With Victory

City arrive at Turf Moor knowing that the title race has shifted dramatically in their favour. Arsenal sit first with 70 points from 33 matches, while City have 67 from 32.

A victory at Burnley would take Guardiola's side level on points with Arsenal and, because of the extremely tight goal-difference situation, put City top of the table.

That gives a seemingly straightforward fixture enormous significance. With only a handful of league matches remaining, dropping points against a relegation-threatened side could prove extremely costly.

City's Victory Over Arsenal Changed the Title Race

Manchester City entered the Burnley match after one of their most important victories of the season. On April 19, City defeated Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, cutting the leaders' advantage to three points while retaining their game in hand.

Haaland scored the decisive goal, ending a Premier League scoring drought that had stretched back to February. The victory restored momentum to Guardiola's side and transformed the Burnley fixture into an opportunity to move ahead of Arsenal. Rather than chasing from behind, City knew they could take control of the title race with another win.

Manchester City's Attack Remained One of the League's Best

City entered the fixture having scored 65 goals in 32 Premier League matches, compared with 29 conceded. Their +36 goal difference was only one behind Arsenal's +37. Those numbers illustrate the difference between the two teams. Burnley had conceded 67 times, while City had allowed fewer than half that number.

City also possess several different ways of creating chances. Haaland provides the obvious central threat, while players such as Jérémy Doku, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki can create from wider or deeper positions. That variety makes simply defending Haaland insufficient. Burnley need to limit the supply into City's forward line as well as the striker himself.

Erling Haaland Remained the Main Danger

Haaland had already scored twice against Burnley earlier in the season. His movement around the penalty area creates an obvious problem for defenders who may already be occupied with City's midfield runners and wide players.

Against a Burnley side that had conceded the majority of its goals from inside the box, stopping Haaland from receiving service in high-value areas would be essential. The Clarets need their centre-backs to remain disciplined rather than being pulled towards the ball and creating spaces for him to attack.

Rodri's Absence Was a Significant Blow for City

Manchester City did have an important midfield problem ahead of the trip. Rodri was expected to miss the game after suffering a groin-related injury during the victory over Arsenal.

Guardiola confirmed on April 21 that the midfielder was unlikely to be ready for Burnley and said his availability for the upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Southampton was also uncertain.

Rodri's absence matters because of the control he normally provides. He helps City recycle possession, protect against counterattacks and dictate the tempo from midfield. Without him, Burnley may see greater opportunities to attack quickly after turnovers. That does not erase City's advantage, but it does give the hosts an area they can attempt to exploit.

Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol Were Also Missing

City's defensive options were also reduced. Rúben Dias remained unavailable after being sidelined following City's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, while Joško Gvardiol was also ruled out.

Manchester City's official pre-match team-news update confirmed Rodri, Dias and Gvardiol were all unavailable for the trip. Those absences leave Guardiola with less experience in defensive areas.

For Burnley, that should provide some encouragement. Rather than approaching the game only with the intention of surviving, the Clarets need to test City's reshuffled defensive structure whenever opportunities appear.

Burnley Also Had Injury Problems

Burnley were dealing with several absences of their own. Pre-match reports listed Jordan Beyer, Hannibal Mejbri, Josh Cullen and Zeki Amdouni among the unavailable players, while Axel Tuanzebe and Connor Roberts faced fitness concerns.

That reduced Parker's options at a time when he needed flexibility. With City capable of controlling matches in several different ways, Burnley would ideally want options from the bench to change the shape or increase their attacking threat. Their depleted squad made that challenge more difficult.

How Manchester City Could Approach the Match

City are likely to dominate possession. Burnley averaged only 41.9% possession during the season, the lowest figure in the Premier League, suggesting Guardiola's side should spend extended periods with the ball.

City's main objectives are likely to be:

circulate possession quickly enough to move Burnley's defensive block;
create overloads in the half-spaces;
isolate wide attackers against Burnley's full-backs;
find Haaland inside the penalty area;
press immediately when possession is lost;
prevent Burnley from escaping through counterattacks.

Patience will be important. Burnley may defend with large numbers behind the ball, so forcing low-percentage passes could play into the hosts' hands.

How Burnley Could Frustrate Manchester City

Burnley's chances begin with defensive organisation. The Clarets need to keep the distances between midfield and defence small enough that City cannot repeatedly receive the ball between the lines.

Their best opportunities could then come when City lose possession. With Rodri unavailable, there may be more space around City's midfield during defensive transitions.

Burnley need to move forward quickly in those moments rather than immediately surrendering possession. Long periods without the ball are almost inevitable, but the hosts cannot spend the entire match defending inside their own penalty area. They need some attacking threat to prevent City from becoming completely comfortable.

Set Pieces Could Offer Burnley an Opportunity

One potential route for Burnley is from dead-ball situations. Although their overall defensive record was poor, City's own analysis noted that Burnley performed better relative to the league when defending set pieces than their position might suggest.

Attacking set pieces may be even more important. With City missing established defenders such as Dias and Gvardiol, corners and free kicks could provide Burnley with one of their best opportunities to put the visitors under pressure. A relegation battle can sometimes turn on a single set-piece goal.

Where Burnley vs Manchester City Could Be Decided

Several areas could determine the game at Turf Moor.

1. City's Early Pressure

Burnley had conceded more goals in the opening 15 minutes than any other Premier League team. City will likely try to exploit that vulnerability immediately.

2. Burnley's Defensive Concentration

Recent head-to-head meetings show how quickly City can turn a competitive game into a heavy defeat. Burnley cannot afford individual mistakes inside their defensive third.

3. City's Midfield Without Rodri

Rodri's absence potentially gives Burnley more opportunity to counterattack. The hosts need to identify those moments and move forward decisively.

4. Erling Haaland

Burnley's defenders need to limit the quality of service into Haaland rather than simply reacting once he receives the ball.

5. The First Goal

If City score first, Burnley will eventually need to become more adventurous, creating further spaces. If Burnley score first, however, the pressure on City in such a tight title race could make the match significantly more complicated.

Burnley vs Manchester City Goal Trends

The previous 10 Premier League meetings produced 35 goals, averaging 3.5 per match. Manchester City scored 32 of those goals, while Burnley managed only three.

The dominance becomes even clearer when looking at individual results:

Manchester City 5-1 Burnley
Manchester City 3-1 Burnley
Burnley 0-3 Manchester City
Manchester City 5-0 Burnley
Manchester City 5-0 Burnley
Burnley 1-4 Manchester City

Burnley scored in only three of those 10 matches. This was therefore not simply a case of City winning close games. They repeatedly prevented Burnley from creating meaningful attacking output while scoring freely at the other end.

Who Had the Better Head-to-Head Record?

There is no ambiguity in the recent numbers. Manchester City completely dominated the previous 10 Premier League meetings.

They:

won all 10 matches;
scored 32 goals;
conceded only three;
kept seven clean sheets;
entered April 2026 with 11 consecutive league victories over Burnley.

Burnley's challenge was therefore not simply to reverse a slight historical disadvantage. They were trying to end one of the most one-sided recent head-to-head sequences in English football.

Burnley vs Manchester City: Who Had the Advantage?

Heading into April 22, 2026, Manchester City were overwhelming favourites based on the available evidence.

City had:

won the previous 10 Premier League meetings;
beaten Burnley 5-1 earlier in the season;
the opportunity to move top of the league;
scored 65 Premier League goals;
just beaten title rivals Arsenal;
far greater attacking depth.

Burnley, meanwhile, were:

19th with 20 points;
winless in 12 home league matches;
the league's worst defensive team with 67 goals conceded;
coming off a 4-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The biggest sources of hope for the Clarets were City's missing players and the pressure surrounding the title race. Rodri's absence could make City less secure in midfield, while Dias and Gvardiol were also unavailable.

If Burnley could remain level for a long period, the tension surrounding City's title challenge might begin to influence the contest. But history, current league position and attacking quality all pointed strongly towards the visitors.

Burnley vs Manchester City: What the Last 10 Meetings Tell Us

The Burnley vs Manchester City head-to-head record before April 22, 2026 was one of the clearest examples of recent Premier League dominance.

Across the previous 10 league meetings:

Manchester City won all 10.
Burnley did not win or draw any.
City scored 32 goals.
Burnley scored three.
The games produced 35 goals in total.
City kept seven clean sheets.
Burnley entered the fixture having lost 11 consecutive Premier League meetings against City.
Manchester City had won the reverse fixture 5-1.

Everything in the historical record favoured Guardiola's side. Yet the stakes gave this meeting additional significance. Manchester City were trying to move to the top of the Premier League during a tense title race with Arsenal, while Burnley were attempting to preserve the smallest remaining hope of survival.

For City, anything less than victory could prove damaging in the title race. For Burnley, producing one of the biggest surprises of their season might be the only way to keep their Premier League survival hopes alive.

Burnley vs Manchester City Head-to-Head 2026: Last 10 Meetings, Results & Analysis