Stefan Ortega Moreno, Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Rico Lewis, Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden all come into the starting eleven from that side that beat RB Leipzig 7-0 in the Champions League in midweek.
Making way are Ederson, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish who all revert to the bench.
Bernardo Silva also makes way as he serves a one match suspension this afternoon.
Teams
CITY XI: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Lewis, Rodrigo, De Bruyne (C), Mahrez, Alvarez, Foden, Haaland
Subs: Ederson, Phillips, Stones, Aké, Gündogan, Grealish, Gómez, Akanji, Palmer
BURNLEY: Peacock-Farrell, Roberts, Al-Dakhil, Beyer, Maatsen, Cullen, Gudmundsson, Tella, Zaroury, Vitinho, Foster
Subs: Muric, Taylor, Cork, Barnes, Twine, Bastien, Obafemi, Dervisoglu, Benson
Tactics
It looks as if manager Pep Guardiola could tweak his tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation and instead look to deploy a 4-2-3-1 line up this afternoon.
But, as always, such is City’s tactical and technical flexibility that could well be subject to change!
Stefan Ortega Moreno get another opportunity in goal and the German will be shielded by a back four of Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Rico Lewis.
Rodrigo and Kevin De Bruyne could be the deep lying midfielders with Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez operating further forward while Erling Haaland is set to be the central focal point in attack.
Semi-conscious
City will be seeking to extend what is an impressive FA Cup record under the leadership of Pep Guardiola.
Since the Catalan took charge at the Etihad in the summer of 2016, City have subsequently reached the FA Cup semi-final in five of the six seasons Pep has been at the helm, only failing to reach the last four in the 2017-18 campaign.
Should we prevail this afternoon, City would become the third team to reach the last four of the competition in five consecutive seasons since the creation of the Football League, after Manchester United (1961-62 to 1965-66) and Arsenal (2000-01 to 2004-05).
In sharp contrast, this is Burnley’s first FA Cup quarter-final match since 2002-03 when they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Watford.
The Clarets last reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1973-74, beating Wrexham in that year’s quarter-final.
A legend returns
Today also sees the emotional return to the Etihad of City legend Vincent Kompany who is now in charge of Burnley.
Over 11 magnificent years’ service between 2008 and 2019, the Belgian centre half and City captain established himself as one of the towering figures in the Club’s proud 129-year history.
Kompany led the Club to four Premier League titles, four League Cups as well as two FA Cups.
And his enormous contribution was subsequently permanently recognised in the form of an iconic statue which sits on the concourse next to the East stand.
The 36-year-old is assured of a rapturous reception when he steps out prior to kick-off.
Worth noting too that Kompany’s assistant Craig Bellamy, who performed with great distinction for City between 2009 and 2011, will also be back in situ at the Etihad too.
Stats and facts
● Having lost their first FA Cup meeting with Burnley in January 1931, Man City have won each of their last four against the Clarets in the competition, most recently a 5-0 win in the fourth round in 2018-19.
● Burnley have lost their last 10 meetings with Man City in all competitions by an aggregate score of 34-1. Only against Arsenal (11 between 2010-2019) and Wolves (11 between 1987-2002) have they ever lost more consecutively.
● Burnley haven’t won away against Manchester City since the 1973 Charity Shield (1-0), drawing four and losing 12 of their 16 visits since then.
● Manchester City have won their last 10 FA Cup home games, scoring 41 goals and conceding just four. Their last such defeat was against a Championship side, however, going down 2-0 against Middlesbrough in January 2015.
● Manchester City are yet to concede a goal in this season’s FA Cup, beating Chelsea 4-0, Arsenal 1-0 and Bristol City 3-0. Only in 2012-13 have they reached the semi-final of the competition while keeping a clean sheet each time.
● Since his FA Cup debut in January 2019, no player has either scored (10) or been involved in (15) more goals in the competition than Man City‘s Phil Foden (first round onwards).
● Man City‘s Riyad Mahrez has been involved in eight goals in his last seven FA Cup matches, scoring six and assisting two. The Algerian has also been involved in eight goals in his last eight games against Burnley in all competitions (7 goals, 1 assist).
● Burnley forward Ashley Barnes’ last FA Cup goal came against Man City, giving the Clarets the lead in their eventual 4-1 defeat in the 2017-18 third round. That was also the last away goal Burnley scored against City.
