RAHEEM GETS OFF THE MARK WITH BRACE
PEP GUARDIOLA has always preached how pleasant it is having silverware in the cabinet by March. He would do, Manchester City having lifted the last three Carabao Cups, it’s now four years to the month since they actually lost a fixture in this competition. The desire to go through and progress is weighted against the need to give star players a night off; the former won overwhelmingly before City did themselves, Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres taking the plaudits, with young Cole Palmer very encouraging on debut. There was definitely more zip to City, probably a product of a rocket delivered by their manager after the timid surrender against Leicester City on Sunday. A response was demanded because shipping five goals at home for the first time in 17 years is wholly unacceptable for a club such as City. Burnley might have been on the canvas long before Sterling’s 35th-minute opener and first goal of the season had it not been for Bailey Peacock-Farrell in goal. The young goalkeeper completed a string of fine saves, stopping an Sterling effort from squirming inside his near post before diving low to deny a forceful drive across his body. Pressure told eventually, however, with Sterling lashing home with vengeance at the end of a move that owed much to Aymeric Laporte’s measured distribution from the back and then Benjamin Mendy’s punchy first-time cross. Yet for all the positivity, with 18year-old midfielder Palmer following Liam Delap’s lead from last week by making an impression on his debut, Burnley felt they should have been awarded at least one penalty. With no VAR to fall back on, Andy Madley turned down Charlie Taylor’s appeal when going over Fernandinho’s challenge when turning back inside the box, and similar as Dwight McNeil was grounded by Kyle Walker. Sean Dyche’s complaints from the touchline soundtracked the evening, although the return of Ashley Barnes — back for the first time since New Year’s Day following extended hernia problems — served as a timely boost with the Clarets stretched. Palmer twice went close as he kept up with the physicality in midfield, linking play behind Sterling, while Torres volleyed over an outrageous clipped throughball courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne. It was Torres who set up Sterling’s second four minutes after the break, squaring intelligently for a tap in. Palmer had turned over possession in midfield, leaving De Bruyne to find Torres. The Spaniard swept in his first goal for the club with 25 minutes left, unrushed after breaching the last line. Guardiola wants to get through the international break unscathed and maybe the seniors running for him again will serve them well when they meet Marcelo Bielsa’s Murderball on Saturday.