Burnley 0-1 Manchester City: Sergio Aguero secures tight victory for City

Manchester City inched ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League title race after overcoming a stern test to beat Burnley 1-0.

City were frustrated for an hour at Turf Moor, but Sergio Aguero broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute when his shot from close range went just over the line before Matt Lowton could clear.

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Goal-line technology showed the ball was 25.3 millimetres over the line and it was that fine margin that proved decisive as City held on for a tense win - their 12th in a row in the Premier League - to move one point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the table.

City, who also had a Gabriel Jesus shot blocked on the line by Ben Mee, will retain the title if they win their final two games against Leicester (H) and Brighton (A).

Liverpool travel to Newcastle and then host Wolves on the final day, but former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness and ex-England defender Alex Scott agreed that City have overcome their toughest remaining test.

"Leicester will try to take the game to them and there'll be spaces," said Scott. "Burnley was the potential banana skin, they've overcome that, and I don't see them slipping up now."

Souness added: "Leicester will be tailor-made for Man City. They're a young team who like to play on the front foot, I don't see them shutting up shop. It could be a great game, but it should play into City's hands."

How City moved a step closer

After winning at Manchester United in midweek, a trip to Burnley, who had won three of their last four games, was seen as another opportunity for Liverpool to gain the advantage in the title race.

Liverpool would have had hope of an upset after a tight first half that saw just two shots on target and neither goalkeeper seriously tested.

Burnley had only 31 per cent of the possession, but spurned the best opening in the 22nd minute when Chris Wood was played through on goal and his heavy first touch allowed Ederson to dive at his feet and claim the ball.

Bernardo Silva shot at Tom Heaton from 12 yards out shortly afterwards before Sergio Aguero fired narrowly wide from outside the box.

City raised the intensity at the start of the second half as Heaton saved powerful shots from Aguero and Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte headed at the goalkeeper.

City also had strong penalty appeals turned away when David Silva's shot struck Ashley Barnes on the arm.

The pressure eventually told in the 63rd minute when Aguero managed to dig out a shot from close range and Lowton could not keep it out on the line.

Lowton made a superb block on the line to prevent Jesus extending City's lead, but the visitors held out in a tense finish to move a step closer to winning the title.

Opta stats

• This is only the second season in English top-flight history where two sides have earned 90+ points, after Arsenal (94) and Leeds (91) in the 1970-71 campaign (adjusted to 3 pts/win).
• Since losing 1-2 away at Newcastle United in January, Manchester City have won each of their last 12 Premier League games, scoring 27 goals and conceding just three.
• Burnley have won just one of their last 16 home Premier League games against 'big six' opponents (W1 D2 L13).
• Burnley recorded just two shots against Manchester City, the fewest they have ever attempted in a single Premier League match.
• Only against Jose Mourinho (seven) has Burnley manager Sean Dyche faced an opposition manager more often in the Premier League without winning than against Pep Guardiola (six).
• Man City's Sergio Aguero is only the second player in Premier League history to score 20+ goals in five consecutive campaigns, after Thierry Henry between 2001-02 and 2005-06.

Man of the match - Sergio Aguero

Aguero provided the decisive moment, as he has so often done for City. He was largely subdued in the first half but became more involved as City upped the pressure after the break. He was denied by Heaton and finished with nine shots, which was four more than any other player.

The managers

Sean Dyche: "We had a real go, and that was pleasing from a mentality point of view, because when you're safe you get people wondering how it will affect our performances.

"But we took the game on, against a top side, a very technical side, and we're never going to beat them at their game so we had to make it as awkward as possible, turn it into a cup-tie feel and the game feels completely different. I thought we did that well

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Pep Guardiola: "We controlled the first half but the pitch was so dry, the grass was so long, and there was problems moving the ball. It was an idea of theirs but even with that we controlled things.

"In the second half we had another level, and created three, four or five chances which isn't easy against them - but we did it, and now it's two games left."

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What's next?

Burnley finish the season with a trip to Everton on Friday, May 3, live on Sky Sports, and then a home game against Arsenal on Sunday, May 12.

Manchester City host Leicester on Monday Night Football on May 6 and then travel to Brighton on the final day. They also have the FA Cup final against Watford on May 18.

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