Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor. The Citizens head into this match on the back of a decent point in Germany in midweek, which officially made sure of their participation in the Champions League post-Christmas. Now all attention turns to their domestic aspirations, with three points this afternoon enough to take them back to the summit.

It has been two months since City actually picked up back-to-back wins in the top flight, though - pretty incredible when you think about just how dominant they were across the opening month or so of the campaign. Three points against Crystal Palace last weekend, secured thanks to Yaya Toure's double on his return to action, means that they can do exactly that this afternoon should they do enough to see off Burnley.

TEAM NEWS!

BURNLEY XI: Robinson; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Gudmundsson, Marney, Defour, Hendrick, Boyd; Vokes

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo; Sagna, Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Yaya Toure, Sterling, Nolito; Aguero

Let us start by checking out the home team, then, which shows one major alteration from last time out. Tom Heaton misses out on the startling lineup for the first time since joining the Clarets in 2013, meaning a debut for the experienced Paul Robinson in goal - a nice, easy game for the former England No.1 to be eased back into action following what feels like a lifetime sat on the bench watching on! That really is a major blow for the home side, as Heaton has been one of their stand-out stars.

Heaton, who made his 150th appearance for Burnley last Monday, misses out because of a thigh injury; Robinson coming in for his first appearance in the Premier League since May 2012. Ben Mee is therefore handed the captaincy this afternoon, while George Boyd is recalled to the side after missing the 4-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion, aiming to again prove the difference against City after scoring the winner in this fixture the last time they met here.

Boyd has actually scored in each of his last two games against the Citizens, so Sean Dyche's thinking is clear to see. Boyd will take up a wider role, with Sam Vokes the man tasked with leading the line; the Welshman scoring four goals already this season to help his side on their way to some valuable points. Ashley Barnes had been tipped with a starting role following some impressive form from the bench since returning from a long-term injury layoff, but he is still being eased back to full fitness.

Switching attention to the visiting side now, and there is a major boost for Pep Guardiola as leading marksman Sergio Aguero is declared fit to start. The Argentina international is thought to have undergone a late fitness test, which he clearly passed as he is among the starters at Turf Moor. It is hard to emphasise just how important he is to this City side, scoring 31 goals in his last 33 league outings and finding the net against all but two of the sides he has faced.

Aguero retains his place in the side, then, but elsewhere Guardiola has made a total of five changes from the 1-1 draw against Gladbach in midweek. John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan are nowhere to be seen this afternoon - neither the starting lineup nor the bench - in what is a slightly different-looking City side. Interestingly, Fernandinho starts deep alongside Fernando - a setup which failed badly against Tottenham Hotspur last month if I remember correctly.

The big talking point heading into the match, besides Aguero's fitness, was whether Yaya Toure would be brought back into the fold. The Ivorian was ineligible to feature in the Champions League in midweek, but he does indeed get a second league start in succession today as he is selected in a three-man attacking midfield on the back of his Palace brace. Kevin de Bruyne, with seven assists to his name this term - more than any other Prem player - is left on the bench, though, as is fellow creative star David Silva.

That means Nolito and Raheem Sterling will take up the two wide positions, providing the support for Aguero who will play slightly ahead of Toure. With Stones seemingly rested for the second time in the space of seven days, and Vincent Kompany out until the New Year, Guardiola is forced to play Aleksandar Kolarov in the centre alongside Nicolas Otamendi. It is hardly a vintage City side, in truth.

BENCH WATCH!

BURNLEY SUBS: Pope, Tarkowski, Flanagan, Arfield, Kightly, Barnes, Gray

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, De Bruyne, Silva, Zabaleta, Navas, Sane, Iheanacho

Robinson was unsurprisingly given the nod by Dyche to take over from the previously ever-present Heaton, with Nick Pope stepping up to take up a spot on the bench. Jon Flanagan is hardly having the finest of loan spells at the moment, again being left on the bench for this one, while Kightly, Barnes and Andre Gray will all likely be called upon should Burnley require a goal in the second half of the match. City, on the other hand, have Jesus Navas, Kelechi Iheanacho, Silva, De Bruyne and Leroy Sane - not a bad selection.

Pep Guardiola has made five changes to his Manchester City side, again leaving out John Stones in the Premier League due to fitness reasons, while Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva are also overlooked for selection. Yaya Toure is included from the off, though, and there is also a starting role for Sergio Aguero who was deemed fit enough to play a part. The big news this afternoon is that Tom Heaton fails to start for Burnley for the first time since joining the club three years ago - a major loss.

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Plenty of focus on Man City ahead of the weekend's first fixture, inevitably, but there is also plenty on the line for Burnley this afternoon - not least after shipping four to West Brom five days ago in by far their worst showing since being promoted back to this level. While the performance was largely out of character at The Hawthorns, the result was not all that surprising in truth as they have been a different beast when it comes comparing their home and away games.

Heading into that match with Albion, the clarets had been on an impressive run that had seen them collect seven points from the last nine on offer, including an improbable goalless draw at Old Trafford prior to the international break that saw Heaton keep out what felt like a hundred shots on goal. As touched upon a few moments ago, though, their away form has been disappointing on the whole as that point against United was their one only one they have collected so far in the Premier League.

The good news for Burnley, however, and the neutrals following coverage of this game, is that today's game is being played at Turf Moor - something of a fortress this term. Only a few other sides boast better records on home soil, in fact, with the Clarets claiming 13 of their 14 points at this ground. They have already defeated Liverpool, Everton and Crystal Palace here, while also drawing to Hull City and narrowly losing to both Arsenal and Swansea City. It is the results against the first two of those sides, and the scare they gave the Gunners, that left Guardiola questioning those who felt this would be an 'easy game' for his side.

There has been late drama in each of the Clarets' last three home games, too, with goals coming in the 90th minute or later against Arsenal, Everton and, most recently, Crystal Palace. There was a sense that things were just not going to go Burnley's way when Laurent Koscielny illegally bundled the ball over the line to deny the hosts a point earlier in the campaign, but the snatch-and-grab victory over the Toffees here and the never-say-die spirit shown against Palace suggests that the Clarets have what it takes to stay up.

All that leaves them four points above the relegation zone heading into this latest round of top-flight fixtures; well on track to achieving their overriding goal of simply staying in the division on their return to this level. This is what you would describe as a 'bonus game' for Dyche's charges, but they face off against Stoke City, Bournemouth and West Ham over the next three weeks so there is a chance to put some more distance between themselves and the bottom three prior to Christmas.

DID YOU KNOW? Burnley have allowed opponents 54 more shots on target than they have had themselves in the Premier League - 28 attempted and 52 conceded across the first 12 games. I think that stat goes a long way to showing just how important Heaton has been to this side, with his form leading to a call-up - and indeed a senior appearance - in the recent squads named by Sam Allardyce and Gareth Southgate. It also proved the importance of taking your chances when they come along, just like they did in that game with Everton in particular.

It has been a decent start to life in the Premier League for Burnley since earning promotion back in May; the Clarets sitting just outside the top half of the table with nearly a third of the season now played. Their home form, as it so often is for newly-promoted teams, really has been vital, with 13 of their 14 points thus far coming at Turf Moor. Liverpool and Everton both fell to defeats here, while Arsenal required a late, late goal to get the job done.

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Burnley's focus is simply on keeping afloat at the bottom end, then, perhaps with one eye on a potential top-half finish which really would be a stunning achievement for the impressive Sean Dyche. For City, however, anything other than title success in Pep Guardiola's debut campaign on these shores would surely go down as a disappointment. That is unless the Champions League trophy is brought to the Etihad Stadium, but that really would be a major ask for a side that has only once previously made it beyond the quarters.

It is fair to say that the Citizens have gone off the boil somewhat since that incredible opening six-week spell under Guardiola, which saw them become European football's most in-form side following a 10-game winning run to kick off the campaign. That was soon followed up by a six-match streak without a win in all competitions - Guardiola's worst run in management - but they do still remain on track for success both at home and in Europe at this stage in proceedings.

City picked up the point needed in Germany on Wednesday night to ensure that their home tie with Celtic early next month is now essentially a dead-rubber; a 1-1 draw at the home of Gladbach seeing them progress through from a tough-looking group as the second-best side behind tournament favourites Barcelona. In the league, Toure's double seven days ago proved to be the difference against Palace, sparking dramatic scenes towards the end as City's travelling fans made their way on to the pitch to greet a player who has surely done enough to earn his place in the club's best-ever XI.

Guardiola's men did lose to rivals Man United at Old Trafford in the midst of their dismal run of form recently, though, meaning that they are already out of one competition. The EFL Cup was at the bottom of their list of priorities, it is fair to say, so City can now very much focus solely on their league aspirations until the FA Cup gets under way in around five weeks' time. While going off the boil, Liverpool and Chelsea have hit top gear and could potentially pull away if the Citizens fail to struggle for winning form.

Picking up back-to-back league wins for the first time in more than two months would be a good place to start, knowing that they face Chelsea, Leicester, Arsenal and Liverpool in their next batch of fixtures leading up to the New Year. A few potentially decisive games in that run, but you would certainly expect City to now put their foot firmly back on the gas after taking what can best be described as an early-season breather.

City have won five of their six away games in the Premier League since Guardiola took charge, in stark contrast to their away form in Europe which is far from stellar - as was also the case, in context, during the German's time at Bayern and Barca. The Citizens have also scored an unrivalled 15 goals on their travels domestically this term, but just two clean sheets in 15 games overall is not exactly title-winning form - just ask reigning champions Leicester - meaning some cover will surely be brought in during the winter transfer window.

With kickoff at Turf Moor now less than 10 minutes away, let us turn attention to some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Sean Dyche: "We haven't found our feet at all away from home and some of that is down to the opposition but we know we're better than that. It's not a free hit because we want to take on every game and get points on the table. There's a huge gulf between us and Manchester City on and off the pitch but it is the marvel of football. Random results turn up and we've had plenty of them since I've been here - we've had some this season. Internally we have an expectation of delivering a performance."

Pep Guardiola: "I saw their games. I am really impressed. I think it will be the toughest game for our regeneration. It is a derby, it is many things. We cannot forget they beat Liverpool, they lost in the 93rd minute against Arsenal and they draw at Old Trafford. What they do, they do really well. I am really impressed about their quality, their spirit. Of course they lost the last game 4-0 to West Brom, but I can imagine what happens when a team loses 4-0. Their attention and focus is higher than before."

Dyche talking there about the importance of finding some form away from home, particularly after that thrashing against a West Brom side not exactly known for their ability to score goals. Guardiola expects this to be among City's toughest games yet, though, as manager's will often tell reporters on the eve of a game against a side towards the bottom end of the table. In truth, the visitors should win comfortably today, yet Burnley's home form is bettered by few others in the division.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Burnley won 1-0 when they last hosted Manchester City in March 2015, with George Boyd - back in the starting lineup today - scoring the decisive goal. That is the Clarets' only win against the Citizens in their last 11 league meetings, though, while 18 goals have been scored in their only four encounters at Premier League level. I'm sure the home fans in attendance today will take a repeat of that scoreline from 20 months ago, albeit coming at a different point in the campaign.

Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, being greeted by a brilliant atmosphere at Turf Moor. Robinson the first man out of the tunnel, earning his first Premier League appearance of any sort in more than four years. Questions over how up for this game City will be so soon after a big European fixture, and with the likes of Stones, Silva and De Bruyne out of the side, the Clarets will surely fancy their chances. We are about to find out...

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KICKOFF! Manchester City get us up and running in Lancashire, sporting their black and yellow alternate kit. Burnley, in their traditional claret and blue colours, looking to make a strong start in front of their home fans.

Half a chance for Toure, who peeled off his man and had the chance to shoot from an angle inside the box. The Ivorian, back among the starters for a second week running now, skews his attempt into the stands and is greeted by ironic jeers.

Sluggish start to the game, in truth, which can often prove to be the case in these early kickoffs in the Premier League. The onus will be on City to get the ball forward the more this half goes on, but for now there is little between the teams.

SAVE! A first attempt of the match - and a first stop for Robinson to make in competitive action in some 26 months! It came from a trademark Aguero attempt, with the Argentina international cutting inside and blasting towards the bottom from 20 yards out.

Just prior to that Aguero shot, Burnley had a shout for a penalty when Otamendi appeared to barge straight into the back of Hendrick. Questions over whether the Burnley man was offside - replays are pretty inconclusive - but if he was then the hosts have reason to feel aggrieved about Andre Marriner's decision to wave play on.

Aguero's shot aside, Burnley have been the brighter side in these opening stages and have just earned themselves a corner. Cleared away with ease in the end, yet City were unable to get going when springing a counter. Good start for the hosts.

SAVE! Decent attempt from Gudmundsson, who like Aguero before him cut inside - this time from the right - before blasting away a shot down the middle. Caballero handled it easily enough, though, for his first touch of the game.

Dean Marney finds the net in the Premier League for the first time in seven years with a stunning strike. A long punt forward from Robinson was only half cleared by Otamendi, allowing the Burnley midfielder to put his boot through it on the volley to put the hosts ahead.

Poor defensive play from City costs them yet again, then, with Otamendi struggling to deal with what was a simple enough ball into the box. Just the two clean sheets in 16 games for City, who will surely delve into the market in five weeks' time.

City starting to take control of the game now, but they are not doing a great deal with possession and still have just that one shot to show for their efforts in the opening quarter of this game. Some nice play ends with Aguero's shot blocked inside the box.

SAVE! Another save made by Robinson, who has settled into this game with ease. Nolito let the ball roll across his body inside the box - a sign of far too much time - and looked to pick out the bottom corner. A Decent stop from the Englishman, but one you'd expect him to make.

City certainly seeing more of the ball but Burnley certainly not sitting back. They have just earned themselves another corner on their left, which was easily dealt with in the end. The visitors break but Toure's touch is poor and rolls through to Robinson.

Play is stopped for a minute or so while Marney receives some treatment. The midfielder's strike is the difference between the two sides so far; his first goal in seven years at this level lighting up the first half of this clash.

Sterling is played in but is muscled off the ball when inside the box. Should have been a free kick in the build-up, regardless, so justice was done. Aguero looks to slalom his way through but is also blocked out in front of goal.

Burnley playing a dangerous game at the moment, as they struggle to deal with a ball into the box which bobbled around for an eternity. Toure looked well positioned to shoot but appeared to get his studs caught in the ground and did not make contact.

SHOT! A nice layoff from the chest of Fernandinho leads to Aguero shaping up for the shot 20 yards from goal, but he sends it high over the bar. Burnley one of just two Premier League sides Aguero has failed to score against, incidentally.

Burnley simply being stronger on the ball than their opponents at the moment. They win themselves a free kick which Keane flicked narrowly wide of goal, via a deflection off Otamendi. From the corner, Ward blocked off Bravo who failed to grab the ball.

CLOSE! Yaya Toure is proving to be City's most lively player yet again, using his sheer force to drive into the box and blasting away a shot which clipped the post on its way out. Marney booked prior to that for what is now described as a professional foul (he wiped out his opponent on the break).

Sterling finds himself in acres of space in the box and manages to pick out Nolito, who is denied by some brilliant Lowton defending. It did not matter in the end, though, as the resulting corner somehow found its way to Aguero at the back stick who just prodded the ball home for his 32nd league goal in 34 outings - an incredible run of scoring form.

SAVE! The Citizens deserving of that leveller after stepping things up over the past 10 minutes, and they so nearly had a second as Aguero's curler was only kept out by a superb Robinson stop - his best of the match so far.

BURNLEY SUB! Marney has failed to shake off that knock and has finally decided to go off after limping around for the past 10 minutes or so. Scott Arfield, left out of the starting lineup today, is the man to come on in his place.

BURNLEY SUB! All going wrong for Burnley now, as Gudmundsson joins Marney is limping out of the game. A hamstring injury will likely see him spend the Christmas period on the sidelines, but more immediately it is James Tarkowski who comes on.

Dyche will be happy that half time is nearly here, with that Tarkowski introduction leading to plenty of reshuffling. The Burnley boss reluctant to bring on another attacking player, so he will spend these next 15 minutes drilling an altered system into his players.

City guilty of trying to walk it into the net, with Aguero and Sterling failing to get a shot away. A square pass from Burnley at fault there, probably due to the sun shining down which is causing some real problems in this first half.

CHANCE! A rare Burnley chance deep into first-half stoppage time, as Vokes gets on the end of Lowton's cross from the right and heads down low for Bravo to keep out. First we have seen from the Clarets in an attacking sense for a good 15 minutes.

Referee Andre Marriner brings a close to what was an entertaining first half at Turf Moor, with the two teams going into the interval locked at a goal apiece. Dean Marney opened the scoring for Burnley 14 minutes in with a fine strike, before Sergio Aguero tapped home a leveller 23 minutes later. The Citizens have come closest to a second since then, but the Clarets are are offering an attacking threat.

Paul Robinson, handed his first Burnley start in the absence of the previously ever-present Tom Heaton - and a first appearance of any sort in senior football in 26 months - was thrown straight into the deep end with a trio of first-half stops. The first came seven minutes in when pushing aside a trademark Sergio Aguero drive from 20 yards out, which was heading for the bottom corner if not for his intervention down low.

City were certainly not having things all their own way in Lancashire, however, and they also had to remain strong at the back to deny Johann Berg Gudmundsson a breakthrough strike after the Icelandic international cut inside and blasted away a decent attempt on goal. Just two minutes later Burnley did find a way past Claudio Bravo, with a simple punt upfield from Robinson only being half-cleared by Nicolas Otamendi, allowing Dean Marney to volley home his first top-flight goal in seven years.

It was a fairly sluggish start by the Citizens, but they soon clicked into gear and tested Robinson for a second time as Nolito let the ball roll across his body - a sign of too much time inside the box - and looked for the far corner of the net. Burnley stood strong on that occasion, though there was to be no denying Sergio Aguero eight minutes before the break - the Argentina international prodding home at the back stick after a corner somehow made it all the way through.

Yaya Toure, handed a second league start in the space of a week by Pep Guardiola, was using his power to drive into the box on occasion, sending one shot back off the outside of the post as City looked to up things further. Robinson produced his best stop of the half as half time closed in, getting across to claw aside Aguero's curling effort which looked destined for the net if not for the veteran stopper's fine save. A half that started so well for the hosts ended badly, as Gudmundsson and goalscorer Marney both limped off which forced Sean Dyche to shuffle his pack slightly.

Despite the disruption to their flow, Burnley came close with the final act of the half when Sam Vokes met Matt Lowton's cross and sent his header down the middle for Bravo to keep out. All square at the interval, then, with it all still to play for over the next 45 minutes in Lancashire. Dyche has already made two changes, but could Guardiola now roll the dice?

BURNLEY SUBS: Pope, Flanagan, Kightly, Barnes, Gray

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, De Bruyne, Silva, Zabaleta, Navas, Sane, Iheanacho

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RESTART! Burnley get us back under way at Turf Moor, looking to build on what was a decent first-half showing. Manchester City were on top for the majority of the opening 45 minutes, but the Clarets could well have gone into the break ahead.

City have started the second half on top but Nolito's volley into the top row of the stand behind the goal sums things up. De Bruyne and Silva still to call upon, remember, so expect to see some movement on the bench in the next 10 minutes.

City have won just one of their four games immediately after European ties this term, and that poor run could well continue if Toure's drive over the target is anything to go by. Still plenty of time to go in this one, however.

The Citizens, as expected, dominating possession as they go in search of a goal that would put them in the lead for the first time today. Burnley accustomed to sitting back at home, and their record shows that they are very good at what they do.

Leroy Sane is being stripped off ready to come on, so Guardiola has clearly seen enough. The Citizens are on top of things but not really creating any chances, with a little over 35 minutes now left to play in this early Premier League kickoff.

MANCHESTER CITY SUB! A like-for-like switch for City, as Leroy Sane replaces the injured Sterling. Not sure if that was Guardiola's original thinking or if he quickly adapted when seeing his English winger going to ground.

Still not seen any chances in this second half, which is a real surprise with City desperately chasing a goal. A point not enough to take them back to the Premier League summit this afternoon, with all three required to usurp Liverpool and Chelsea.

A first attempt on target of the second half from City, which ends in the back of the net to give them the lead - and indeed takes them to the top of the table as things stand. Aguero scored it, but he knew very little about it as Fernandinho pulled the ball across goal and it just bounced off the striker's knee and over the line. Real disappointment for the hosts, who just could not clear their lines.

The complexion of the game has changed now, then, with Burnley now having to attack a little more. Hendrick blasts one over the bar on the half-volley from 35 yards out, which must have taken a touch on its way through as the hosts have a corner.

Burnley seeing far more of the ball now, with City happier to sit back a little more. A one-goal margin is not really enough heading into the final quarter of the game, mind - just ask Everton, among others, who have thrown away points here.

City looking fairly comfortable now having regained their composure to edge themselves in front. This was always going to be a tough fixture, so soon after a European tie, but they are doing enough to get over the line at the moment.

YELLOW CARD! Soon after Matt Lowton entered the referee's book, Andre Marriner brandished a yellow in the direction of Aguero after the striker took on a shot despite the whistle already sounding. A tad harsh, but he knows the rules.

Dyche a little cautious about using his final change too soon, which is fair enough after losing two player to injury in the first half, but that third alteration will have to be made soon if any impact is to be made. Andre Gray the most likely to be introduced alongside Vokes.

YELLOW CARD! Nolito barges into Mee and concedes a free kick - the right call by the referee. The Man City attacker did not agree, though, and was shown a yellow when lashing out at Andre Marriner. The card count beginning to stack up now.

CLOSE! It is the hosts who have been on top over the past five minutes, with their best opening coming via Keane who saw his header hacked clear near the line by Kolarov. City have got to be careful because Burnley have a record of scoring - and indeed conceding - late goals here.

Height proving to be the hosts' best way through at the moment, with another ball into the box - moments after that Keane chance - causing real panic at the back. The Citizens need to get back into the attacking groove or else they risk losing two points.

MANCHESTER CITY SUB! A positive change from Guardiola, as he brings on Kevin de Bruyne for Nolito for these final 11 minutes or so. He clearly wants to see his side push up the field, with the Belgian one of the best around at taking the ball up the pitch.

BURNLEY SUB! A change we have seen often this season from Burnley, as Defour makes way in place of a more attacking option - Ashley Barnes, in this instance. Burnley still looking the more lively team, but they just cannot seem to test Bravo.

Some good game management by the Citizens, as they take the sting out of the contest with a nice, calm passing move towards the right. It ultimately led to nothing but we are now just seven minutes from full time at Turf Moor, with the Citizens still a goal to the good.

George Boyd has a shot blocked and Hendrick also, as Burnley now throw all they have at their opponents. Still one change available for Guardiola to make, which he will surely use even if it is just to merely eat up some more pressure time.

Pretty desperate defending from the Citizens, as they simply lump it into Row Z - not exactly the worst thing to do at this point. A real dearth of chances at either end in this second half, with Aguero's double likely to be the difference here.

MANCHESTER CITY SUB! The man who looks likely to be the matchwinner makes way, with Jesus Navas taking Aguero's spot in attack. Around four minutes of added time expected to be added on at Turf Moor, so not over quite yet.

Four minutes were indeed added on, with one of those already being played. No real drama at the moment, which has been the case ever since City edged 2-1 ahead really. Burnley put up a good fight but are falling just short in terms of grabbing a second.

Burnley win a free kick in City's half which bounces around inside the box. City fans had to look away for a moment, but Bravo got it at the second attempt. Unconvincing at the back yet again from the visitors, yet that should be enough to get them over the line.

SHOT! Almost a goal of the season contender from substitute Barnes, who saw his overhead kick kept out by Bravo. Too central in the end, and that really will be the last kick of the match with all four minutes now up.

Referee Andre Marriner blows for full time, meaning that Manchester City climb back to the top of the Premier League table thanks to their first back-to-back top-flight wins since September. It is now seven victories in eight away from home, meanwhile, thanks to two Sergio Aguero goals to cancel out Dean Marney's earlier opener. Things could all change at the top over the course of the weekend, with Chelsea and Liverpool still to play over the next 24 hours or so.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events in Lancashire, but before heading off be sure to check out this on-the-whistle report from Turf Moor. There is also time to point you in the direction of the meeting between Liverpool and Sunderland, which can be found by clicking here. enjoy!