Manchester City 3-1 Burnley: Alvarez grabs a brace as Citizens cruise past Clarets to move up to second

Julian Alvarez scored twice on his 24th birthday as Manchester City defeated relegation-threatened Burnley 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, moving them up to second place in the Premier League table.

Rodri added a third goal to secure City's 13th consecutive victory over Burnley, during which time they have scored 46 goals and conceded two. Ameen Al Dakhil scored a late consolation for the visitors.

Pep Guardiola's side have 46 points from 21 games, two behind leaders Liverpool, who face Chelsea later on Wednesday. Burnley are second from bottom and seven points from safety, having played one more game than 17th-placed Luton Town.

City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne made his first start since the season's opening day, and striker Erling Haaland came off the bench for the final 20 minutes after missing the previous ten games with injury.

"I think we started very good. We didn't give them options. The third goal in the second half, very early, allowed us to play more at the very end," Rodri told the BBC.

"I'm so happy for him (Alvarez). What a good way to celebrate his birthday, he's been brilliant this season and, of course, he's a goalscorer."

It was freezing cold in Manchester, but Guardiola's heart was warmed by a routine win, players returning from injury, and a pre-game celebration of his former City captain Vincent Kompany, now manager of Burnley.

However, there would be little sentiment once the game began. City took 16 minutes to make a goal-scoring attempt, but they capitalized.

Matheus Nunes broke down the right flank, and his cross from the byline provided a simple headed opportunity for Alvarez to score, and the Argentine doubled his lead six minutes later.

De Bruyne found the striker with a clever low pass from a free kick, surprising the visitors, and Alvarez finished coolly.

It took City 25 seconds in the second half to extend their lead to 3-0.

De Bruyne found Phil Foden on the right wing, and his pass to Rodri on the edge of the box saw the Spaniard drill the ball low into the bottom corner.

"I am very happy for Erling to come back, John (Stones) also, Kevin as well. We need all of them. We are stronger when we are all together," Rodri said.

Burnley scored a scrappy consolation goal in the 93rd minute when Al Dakhil forced the ball over the line after debutant David Datro Fofana's low cross into the six-yard box.

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