Manchester City on Wednesday edged ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor condemned Burnley to relegation.
The defeat 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 Pep Guardiola’s men ended the day top of the table for the first time since August last year, but the City boss was frustrated at his side’s inability to win by a greater margin.
Photo: Reuters
City went ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for the two title contenders.
“The chances were there. We created a lot. We made a fantastic game,” Guardiola said. “We did everything after a demanding game three days ago.”
However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years.
Photo: Reuters
Fresh from beating Arsenal 2-1 in what was billed as a title decider on Sunday, the visitors roared out of the blocks.
A stunning save by Martin Dubravka turned Rayan Cherki’s shot onto the woodwork.
Haaland was then set free by Jeremy Doku and coolly chipped over the advancing Dubravka with just five minutes on the clock.
Photo: 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 even have been level by halftime 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 left the title race tantalizingly 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 mananged to do that,” Parker said. “In certain moments we’ve lacked a certain quality about us and not managed to get enough points.”
It is the fifth consecutive season that Burnley have either been relegated or promoted as they oscillate between the riches of the Premier League and the Championship.
Elsewhere, AFC Bournemouth’s challenge to qualify for Europe for the first time was dented by Sean Longstaff’s 97th-minute equalizer for Leeds United in a 2-2 draw.
Junior Kroupi’s opener for Bournemouth was quickly canceled out by a James Hill own-goal.
Rayan’s strike had the Cherries on course for the top six until Longstaff’s volleyed leveler.
A point edged Bournemouth above Chelsea, who sacked Liam Rosenior on Wednesday, into seventh.
Leeds moved nine points clear of the relegation zone.
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