Why Burnley beating Manchester City on Saturday could be the biggest upset in Premier League history

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Sean Dyche has done a remarkable job at Burnley, guiding a side with one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League to seventh in the table.

The Clarets have already picked up points off the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham this season and even beat reigning champions Chelsea on the opening day.

But despite that impressive form, they look set to break an unwanted record this weekend.

Burnley head into their tie against Manchester City on Saturday as 30/1 outsiders with one bookmaker – thought to be the longest ever match odds in Premier League history.

The team who currently hold the record is Blackburn Rovers. They went into their match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2011 at 28/1 – and won.

Rovers, then managed by Steve Kean, were rock bottom ahead of the table but a Yakubu brace and Grant Hanley’s winner upset the odds and no doubt United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot was supposed to be celebrating his 70^th birthday that day.

With Burnley in much better form than their Lancastrian rivals were six years ago, it is perhaps a surprise to see them at such long odds.

While Manchester City are undoubtedly playing some scintillating football, George Elek, Head of Media Relations at odds comparison site Oddschecker, notes that the bookies may yet get cold feet over their bold prediction ahead of kick off at the Etihad.

“One bookmaker is really sticking their neck out by pricing Burnley up at 30/1 to defeat Manchester City this weekend,” Elek tells The Independent.

“Those odds have shortened today though from 35/1, so the trend maybe tells us that they could be shorter still come kick-off, and therefore not grab that unwanted record.”