In a Premier League victory, Manchester City defeated Burnley with a scoreline of 3-1, with Julian Alvarez scoring two goals and Erling Haaland making a comeback as a substitute.

Manchester City’s Argentinian striker, Julian Alvarez, celebrated his 24th birthday in style by scoring a delightful first-half double in a classy 3-1 home win over Burnley. The victory propelled City to second place in the Premier League standings.

City manager Pep Guardiola made the decision to start Kevin De Bruyne, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury since August. De Bruyne responded in style, providing an assist for Alvarez’s second goal with a rolled free-kick. Alvarez had already put City in front with a header from Matheus Nunes’ delivery.

City continued their dominance after the break, with Rodri scoring their third goal just 50 seconds into the second half. Phil Foden provided the assist, with De Bruyne once again playing a crucial role in the build-up. De Bruyne was later substituted for Erling Haaland, who made his return from a foot injury.

Burnley managed to grab a consolation goal in added time, with Ameen Al-Dakhil converting a cross from substitute David Datro Fofana. However, it was not enough to prevent City from securing their eighth consecutive win in all competitions.

With the victory, City moved onto 46 points from 21 games, level with Arsenal on goal difference. Burnley, on the other hand, suffered their fourth defeat in five matches and remain second from bottom in the standings.

In terms of player ratings, Alvarez was the standout performer for City, earning a rating of 8. De Bruyne also had an impressive outing, receiving a rating of 8. For Burnley, goalkeeper James Trafford was rated 7.

The match highlights included Alvarez’s opening goal in the 16th minute, where he powered a header into the net after a well-executed play by Nunes. Alvarez then scored his second goal in the 22nd minute, sliding the ball beyond Trafford from De Bruyne’s quick free-kick.

Rodri sealed the victory for City in the 46th minute, slamming the ball low into the corner of the net from the edge of the box. Burnley had a golden chance to score in the 53rd minute, but Zeki Amdouni missed the target.

In the end, Burnley managed to grab a consolation goal in stoppage time through Al-Dakhil, who tapped in Fofana’s cross. However, it was too little too late for the visitors.

Overall, it was a dominant performance from Manchester City, who showcased their attacking prowess and moved up the Premier League table.