Manchester City

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French football expert Luke Entwistle believes Erling Haaland could find "a lot of joy" if he starts against Monaco in the Champions League.

Monaco have conceded 10 goals from their first six league games this season and were also beaten 4-1 by Club Brugge in their opening Champions League game.

Entwistle believes that the way Monaco set up could benefit Haaland, and he expects the Norwegian to have a number of chances to continue his impressive start to the season.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "Monaco are a team that like to press high but that could fall into the hands of Man City who have a target man to hit.

"I assume it'll be Eric Dier that's put on Haaland, but I really see Haaland winning any one-on-one duel that he's faced with. He should have a lot of joy.

"There will be a high line to exploit at times when Monaco press. I see Haaland getting quite a lot of joy. Half the press conference was spent on talking about how many issues there are in the Monaco defence and how they're conceding so much.

"A player of Haaland's calibre coming up against a defence that has looked shaky against inferior strikers, it'll potentially be a lot of fun for Man City fans."

You can listen to the full chat here

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Dro Fernandez, 17, has no intention of listening to offers from abroad, despite interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. (TBR Football), external

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Bernardo Silva says he knows what his future holds as he nears the end of his contract.

The 31-year-old's deal expires at the end of the season.

Speaking before leading Manchester City out as captain against his former club Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday, Silva said: "I know exactly what I'm going to do but it's not the time to focus on it.

"It's to do my best, to put the club back to where it belongs. We've had a lot of captains who've left but it's for the guys who have the most experience to pass it on to the young guys.

"Manchester City was so successful in the last eight years not because one captain was really good but because we have a group of great leaders.

"As the first captain you have to make sure some things don't happen - to create that environment but what we've seen is a group of great characters.

"My job now is to try to create that energy, that chemistry as a group of captains - me, Ruben (Dias), Rodri, Erling (Haaland) - so people behave in the right way."

Sophie Trifonoff
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Monaco at Stade Louis II (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Rodri "feels much better" and travelled to Monaco with the squad. Guardiola says he may be fit enough to start. He said: "We're taking it day by day to see how he feels. The game against Burnley, he didn't feel good. Today, he feels a bit better. We will see tomorrow."

• Guardiola added: "Right now he is not able to play three games a week at top level with the intensity and demand of the opponents. He's not ready. He needs time. My feeling right now is he is not ready because he needs time. This type of injury, it is minimum one year and after that you start."

• On Bernardo Silva's captaincy: "He cannot do better as the captain. He is one of the best players I have ever trained, it's been a luxury for me to have him for these last 10 years. He's an extraordinary player. Intelligent, smart, and can play in so many positions. Really happy to have him and he accepted the role as captain. He's worked really well."

• On Rayan Cherki's fitness: "He won't be ready for this weekend. There are injuries in the shoulder and hamstring. He's twisted his ankle as well. It's risky to play him."

• On opponents Monaco: "They have always had admiration for young players. There's lots of history. They've always had a good team, lots of players. They link inside the channels, really aggressive in the game. Hopefully we can read them well."

• Guardiola "likes what [he] can see" but won't be able to tell if City can compete in the Champions League until "November or December".

• He said he thinks his side can edge on a level in their development in order to compete in the tournament, stating: "We will have to make a step forward to improve the way we play, but we will do it."

Follow all of Tuesday's Champions League buildup and news.

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

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It is fair to surmise that Jeremy Doku has had his share of critics since joining Manchester City. Arguably one of the most frustrating players in the squad for so long, doubts were beginning to grow over the summer around whether the season would be make or break for the Belgian.

For some, the frustration stemmed from a good place. Many City fans, including myself, could see the ridiculously high-level talent that the club had signed in Doku back in 2023. There is arguably no player in world football capable of beating his opposing defender as comfortably as the former Stade Rennais winger. But for so long, that ability to beat a man came with very little afterwards in terms of end product, or a tendency to u-turn and attack one-vs-one again.

But now, when you take a look at Doku's ongoing performances in a Manchester City shirt, there is decisiveness about his play and awareness of attacking team-mates. There's a vastly improved ability to both pick out the right pass and time his attacks to perfection in a variety of positions across the forward line.

It is now three assists in his six appearances for the club so far this season, coupled with a hugely important role in being one of a few players capable of unlocking a deep defensive block with his solo dribbling and lightning pace in the final third. For so long, many would have deemed Kevin De Bruyne as the only player capable of taking on such a role, with his eye for an almost-impossible pass unlocking defensive units over, and over again.

While much of the talk over the summer was about the need to find that KDB replacement, perhaps the answer in the Manchester City squad was there all along; albeit in a very different form of creative spark.

Doku is fast becoming one of Manchester City's most important players. He is showcasing the prospect of him becoming one of the game's very rarest talents - an unstoppable one-vs-one dribbler boasting the energy to defend and attack. You can throw in priceless qualities such as an eye for goal and a decisive defence-splitting pass too.

As is too often the case with Manchester City signings: Trust the club's judgement, be patient, and let Pep Guardiola do what he does best on the training ground.

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external

Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo is continuing to attract interest despite signing a new contract in the summer, with Manchester City, Tottenham, Manchester United and Aston Villa all keen on the 25-year-old Ghana international. (TBRFootball), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

City fans

Gene: It's nice to see the crosses continually being sent with positive results. The defence still has some shaky moments but has definitely improved over last season thus far. A nice, hardworking performance which is building confidence.

Deano: A game of two halves. I felt City were too complacent after the first goal. A talking to with Pep at half time sharpened their focus in the second half and the rest is history.

Robert: Nice to see rhythm returning to City's game. A nice balance in the team. Haaland, Foden, Doku and the very underestimated Nunes were all excellent.

Warren: Not getting carried away just yet but promising signs that we are getting back to somewhere near our best with a new system. Doku has been excellent again.

Burnley fans

Graham: Burnley showed strength, skill, and determination to, yet again, come back from a poor start to draw level by half time. We missed the chance to get ahead just after the break but, having failed to do so, we should have shut up shop, and not tried to play City at open football. That may have been a commendable and brave tactic but, ultimately, it failed. This was not a 1-5 performance but that's what the score sheet reads!

Paul: The result doesn't define our season. The two injury time goals and the two own goals, considering the number of both types scored against us this season, are worrisome. But we will have easier matches and we will improve.

Andrew: How does a decent but small club like Burnley compete with billionaires?! I hope Burnley survive but they don't have the resources.

Portugal midfielder Joao Neves, 21, is a top target for Manchester City, but Paris St-Germain are expected to reject an approach. (Football Insider), external

Bernardo Silva, 31, is considering a move to Saudi Arabia when his contract expires next summer. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter at Etihad Stadium

He won the 'man of the match' prize against Burnley, was highly praised by manager Pep Guardiola in the post-match interviews and there was a buzz every time he received the ball on the left flank; Jeremy Doku is starting to feel like the key difference-maker for Manchester City this season.

In his chat with BBC Sport after the match, Guardiola highlighted that Doku is particularly important against teams who set up with a low block and he hinted that Doku's decision-making is getting better and better all the time.

On another day, Doku would've scored against Burnley and he deserved something to celebrate because his overall contribution was second to none, as he battled against his former captain Kyle Walker.

Doku continuing this form will be vital as Manchester City try to return to their best.

In his post match interview, Matheus Nunes admitted that the team are still trying to reach the levels of control they used to have in every game. That control element would be helped by a fully fit Rodri but, when it comes to flair, Doku is the man who can be relied on to get fans off their seats and drive forward the City attack.

He is a joy to watch and he must strike fear into every Premier League right-back right now.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday’s Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

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When Manchester City face Burnley, they always win.

For the 14th consecutive meeting in all competitions, City got the better of their opponents, while they have scored 51 goals and conceded only three during that run of results.

The hosts did not have it all their own way on Saturday afternoon though and the result could have been very different had Maxime Esteve not converted twice into his own net and had Erling Haaland's interventions late on not happened.

But City had 68% possession and posed a threat for large periods of the 90 minutes, highlighting why they cannot be ruled out of this season's title race after leaders Liverpool were beaten at Crystal Palace.

City often played some lovely interchanges in the final third and Tijjani Reijnders should have finished off one such move, but instead blazed over from the edge of the area.

It looked like being a rare off-day for striker Haaland, but the Norway international took his tally to 15 goals in nine games for club and country this season, continuing his blistering form by converting from Jeremy Doku's low cross in the 90th minute and running through to finish again three minutes later.

Portugal midfielder-turned-right-back Matheus Nunes did score from Haaland's assist and was heavily involved in the third goal, as it was his cross which was turned in by Esteve.

That goal left the result in no doubt and Haaland took the acclaim, as City picked up their 23rd victory in their past 25 matches against promoted sides.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side hit five goals past Burnley: "We behaved very well, the second half was much better than the first."

On winger Jeremy Doku: "He is so important when teams play in a low block. His decisions are becoming better and better."

On Rodri missing out on the squad: "I don't know right now how the pain is in his knee. He said to us that he was not ready to play [this weekend]."

Goalscorer Matheus Nunes also spoke to Premier League Productions after the match: "We shouldn't have conceded a goal, that's what we take from this game. It was a difficult game, but we controlled it better in the second half. It was a good victory.

"We are still trying to reach the level we used to be, with control in every game. We want to win every game but sometimes it isn't easy. We will get there."

Did you know?

• Jeremy Doku has three assists in his last three Premier League games for Manchester City, more than he had managed in his previous 17 appearances for the club (2).

• After scoring another two goals, Erling Haaland has scored more than once in 22% of his Premier League appearances (23 times out of 103), the highest share of any player in the competition's history.

Hear more from Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on City's performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City make six changes to the side that won at Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

The major team news sees the return of striker Erling Haaland up front, after the Norwegian missed the trip to West Yorkshire because of a back injury.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku all start with James Trafford on the bench against his old club, while John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and Divine Mukasa all drop out.

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Savinho, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Burnley boss Scott Parker reverts to his strongest XI after their shock Carabao Cup defeat by League One Cardiff City.

Former City captain Kyle Walker makes a return to Etihad Stadium where he enjoyed eight trophy-filled years under Pep Guardiola.

The likes of Armando Broja, Hannibal Mejbri, Marcus Edwards and Axel Tuanzebe drop out of the starting line-up.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Esteve, Ekdal, Hartmann, Florentino, Tchouna, Cullen, Laurent, Anthony, Foster

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brentford v Manchester United (12:30)

• Chelsea v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Crystal Palace v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leeds United v Bournemouth

• Manchester City v Burnley

• Nottingham Forest v Sunderland (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Wolves (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Liverpool" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Sunderland", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Pep Guardiola parks the bus - or at least he did against Arsenal last week - but it is going to be Burnley who try to do that this time.

The Clarets almost held out against Liverpool and they ran Manchester United close too, but I don't see them keeping City quiet

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

BBC Sport examines some of the main talking points as Manchester City prepare to host Burnley on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola spoke this week of his City side "recovering many, many things that last season we were missing", but statistically they have made their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 2006.

City are ninth in the table, eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool. They have been in the lead for 54% of their total minutes played, more than any other side, yet have only won two of five league games.

There has been heavy scrutiny of Sunday's draw at Arsenal, when City's 32.8% share of possession was the lowest of Guardiola's 601 top-flight matches as a manager. The Catalan admits the increasingly daring approach of opposition sides has forced him to adapt tactically after years of City dominating through patient build-up play.

There are clear signs amid Manchester City's stuttering start that they are developing new weapons. By defending deeper, they have been able to create space for Erling Haaland and others on the counter-attack; City have scored a league-high three goals this season from breakaway attacks which started in their own half. That is already as many as in the whole of 2024-25, and one more than in 2023-24.

On Saturday, City are likely to revert to familiar ways against a Burnley side with the division's lowest average possession figure of 34%. Furthermore, City have won the past 13 meetings by an aggregate score of 46-2, which is the fifth longest winning run in their history against one side.

Testing start for promoted Burnley

Burnley have not triumphed in 19 league visits to Manchester City, since a 5-2 victory in March 1963.

Scott Parker's side have endured a predictably tough start to the season, compounded by Tuesday's EFL Cup home defeat by Cardiff City. An unforgiving Premier League fixture list means they have already played Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Burnley have faced the most shots (95) in the division, with summer signing Martin Dubravka making an unrivalled 19 saves so far.

Dubravka has also launched 61 goal-kicks into the opposition's half, more than twice as many as any other team. That strategy is a far cry from two seasons ago when Vincent Kompany's promoted Burnley side stuck to their short-passing principles. They only took four points from their opening 13 games and finished second bottom.

The current team have the same tally after five matches – will their eventual fate be any different?

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Manchester City midfielder Nico O'Reilly says it is "just the beginning" after signing a new deal with the club.

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract to extend his stay until 2030, having come through the City academy.

He broke into the first team last season when he was asked to play in the unfamiliar left-back role during the side's injury crisis.

O'Reilly has made 27 appearance in total, including six this campaign, scoring five goals and providing two assists.

"This is a day I will never forget," he told told club media.

"I have been at City since the age of eight, and to have made it into the first team and have played matches is a dream come true. To be rewarded with a new contract really is special.

"I am really proud and so is my mum! She has sacrificed so much to get me to where I am today, so I am just as happy for her as I am for myself.

"But, in truth, this is just the beginning for me. I have come so far, but I want to keep pushing now, improving every day, and become the best player I can be."