Aguero gives Man City injury scare during 5-0 win vs Burnley

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero reacts as he sits on the pitch injured during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Burnley at Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, England, Monday. / AP-Yonhap

Sergio Aguero handed Manchester City a huge injury worry inside the first week of the English Premier League's resumption by hobbling off with a right knee problem during their 5-0 thrashing of Burnley on Monday.

``It doesn't look good,'' City manager Pep Guardiola said of the injury to the club's all-time top scorer.

``We will see tomorrow. He felt something in his knee. He was struggling in the last month about some pain in his knee.''

The Argentina striker already appeared in discomfort after having a blocked shot midway through the first half, when he was fouled by Burnley defender Ben Mee in the area in stoppage time to earn a penalty.

Aguero stayed down, clutching his knee, and soon left the field. As he walked past Guardiola in the technical area, Aguero pointed to a region behind his right knee and the coach reacted by shaking his head.

Any lengthy absence would leave City with just one recognized striker, Gabriel Jesus, as the team looks to negotiate its way through a hectic schedule since the resumption of soccer after the coronavirus outbreak. City has eight more league games to play before July 26 and is also in the FA Cup, which resumes at the quarterfinal stage at the weekend.

City is also still involved in the Champions League, which will restart at the last-16 stage in August.

Aguero's injury aside, it was a good night for City against an injury-hit Burnley that was overwhelmed in every department.

Wide midfielders Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden both scored twice, while Spanish playmaker David Silva _ winding down his career at City after 10 years at Etihad Stadium _ also netted.

Foden, a highly rated 20-year-old midfielder, showed why he is being tipped as the long-term replacement for Silva with a performance he described as his best for the club.

He started the scoring in the 22nd minute with a fierce, low drive from 25 meters and completed it by forcing home a finish at the back post in the 63rd.

Mahrez, one of three players to keep his starting place from the 3-0 win over Arsenal last week, scored a superb individual goal in the 43rd and converted the penalty won by Aguero.

Leroy Sane, who has turned down two contract offers from City and could leave in the offseason, entered as a 79th-minute substitute for his first appearance of an injury-hit season.

Second-placed City's victory ensured Liverpool cannot clinch the league title against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday. If Liverpool wins, the title could be sealed a day later if City loses at Chelsea.

Off the field, Burnley issued an apology and a strong condemnation of those responsible for a banner reading ``White Lives Matter Burnley'' being towed behind an aircraft over the stadium at the start of the game.

The aircraft circled moments after the players and coaches of both teams took a knee on the field before kickoff in support of the ``Black Lives Matter'' movement.

``This, in no way, represents what Burnley Football Club stands for,'' the club said in a statement, ``and we will work fully with the authorities to identify those responsible and issue lifetime bans.''

All players at Premier League teams have replaced their names on the back of their shirts with the words ``Black Lives Matter'' in support of a movement that has gained popularity worldwide since the killing of George Floyd in the United States last month. (AP)