Scott Parker's Burnley suffer an instant return to the Championship as Pep Guardiola's Man City replace Arsenal at the top of the Premier League
21:56, 22 Apr 2026Updated 22:09, 22 Apr 2026
Kyle Walker reacts during the defeat against his former club Manchester City which relegated Burnley
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Kyle Walker reacts during the defeat against his former club Manchester City which relegated Burnley(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Burnley have been relegated from the Premier League after a 0-1 home defeat against title chasing Manchester City condemned them to an instant return to the Championship.
The Clarets have become the ultimate yo-yo team as this is the fifth consecutive season that they have either won promotion to, or been demoted from, the Premier League. They enjoyed a record-breaking season under Scott Parker as they finished runners-up to Leeds in the Championship last season.
But their record in the Premier League this season has not been one to be proud of as a lone goal from Erling Haaland saw them fall to a 22nd defeat of the season on a tough night for Clarets right-back Kyle Walker against his former club.
Elring Haaland opens the scoring for Manchester City against Burnley
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Elring Haaland opens the scoring for Manchester City against Burnley(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
The single-goal victory was enough to see Arsenal knocked off the top of the Premier League for the first time since October as Pep Guardiola's City side moved level on points and goal difference with the Gunners but above them on goals scored.
Burnley conceded just 16 goals in 46 matches to set the best defensive record in English league history when they were promoted last season. Their 30 clean sheets matched Port Vale's record from 1953-54.
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They became the first side in English league history not to concede more than one goal in any fixture throughout an entire season and also set a Football League record when they went 12 consecutive league matches without conceding a goal between December 21, 2024 and March 4, 2025.
Burnley's head coach Scott Parker reacts during the Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Manchester City
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Burnley manager has endured a tough time in the Premier League after a record-breaking season in the Championship(Image: AP)
But once again they, like many teams coming up from the Championship, have found the rise in level of play in the Premier League too hot to handle.
The Clarets sit three points above rock-bottom Wolves, who were relegated on Monday evening after West Ham drew 0-0 at Crystal Palace. The two sides meet on the final day of the season at Turf Moor where they will likely battle it out to avoid being the worst team in the top flight.
City had won the past 14 games between the two clubs in all competitions since 2018 by an aggregate score of 51-3. It looked as if Guardiola's title chasers would give their goal difference a serious boost when Haaland dinked a smart finish past Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka after just five minutes.
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Burnley manager Scott Parker consoles his relegated players at full-time
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Burnley manager Scott Parker consoles his relegated players at full-time(Image: Getty Images)
But the Premier League's leakiest defence held firm to at least give Arsenal fans hope, rather than their own, for the rest of the season despite being outshot 28-9.