Nathan Ake helps Man City claim clear advantage for Liverpool FC game
City earn advantage for Liverpool game
Raheem Sterling is top of the league. Still. Liverpool have injected excitement into a title race that appeared dead and buried to many in January, but Manchester City remain in control at the front.
By the time the first whistle blew at Turf Moor, the Blues had been displaced from the top of the table for the first time in 120 days. Ninety minutes and one brilliant performance later, the reigning champions had dished out a reminder to anyone who may have forgotten why they have led the way for so long.
As well as setting a difficult run of games for City off to a perfect start, it also gives them a crucial advantage for their blockbuster clash with Liverpool next week because they do not need to win to stay ahead. If Liverpool want to wrestle control of the title race away, they are going to have to do what they have never done while Pep Guardiola has been in England and that is take three points away from the Etihad.
READ MORE: Man City player ratings vs Burnley as Sterling and De Bruyne boss it
Burnley boos for Ake boost City
There were Burnley fans on their feet at the injustice. First, referee Craig Pawson had dared to give Clarest striker Wout Weghorst a yellow card for turning round to see where Rodri was as the ball dropped between them and then elbowing them in the throat; a minute later, Pawson didn't card Ake for climbing on Weghorst as the two jumped for a ball.
Ake was an unpopular figure all afternoon, and that can only benefit City. The Dutch defender remains behind Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones in the centre-back pecking order but all members of the squad are needed to win multiple trophies - particularly given Dias is still out injured.
It would