Silva is the currency Sterling must deal in now

Pep’s praise for Bernardo as a ‘joy’ to manage won’t be lost on Raheem

A DAZZLING display by Bernardo Silva underlined why it’s so tough for Pep Guardiola’s more glamorous stars, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, to demand a starting place every week.

Sterling was selected yesterday after complaining about a lack of game time and he huffed and puffed without reward, first as a false nine and then on the left.

But the highly acclaimed England international wasn’t the reason City claimed three points and nor was Grealish, who warmed the bench for 90 minutes.

Instead, it was the unsung Bernardo who made the difference, scoring the opener after 12 minutes and remaining a constant threat to Burnley. He was ably assisted by Rodri, who controlled midfield as if running the game by sat-nav and stood up to Burnley’s aerial threat.

They are Guardiola’s go-to men at the moment, leaving the likes of Sterling to fight for the remaining places.

‘We are incredibly lucky to have Bernardo. He and Rodri are in incredible form,’ said a satisfied Guardiola. ‘His performance levels are extraordinary. Defensively, offensively, he is so intuitive with what he has to do. He never loses the ball and he scored a goal, which is important for him.’

Bernardo got a standing ovation and a hug from his manager when he was taken off in injury time but the little perfectionist was sore he couldn’t provide an assist to a team-mate having scored himself.

‘It is a joy for a manager,’ said Guardiola, aware Sterling might be reading. ‘He is always helping, trying to do his job. He is at his top level right now.’

City haven’t conceded at home in the league this season. And though they couldn’t repeat the 5-0 scoreline Burnley had suffered on their previous four visits, the result wasn’t in doubt once captain-for-the-day Kevin De Bruyne had fired in a second goal after 70 minutes.

Burnley are still looking for their first win of the season and stay in the bottom three, though their performance didn’t suggest a side in the doldrums.

Maxwel Cornet had a glorious chance at 1-0 but was foiled by the onrushing Zack Steffen, who did a passable impression of the man he was deputising for, Ederson.

The team news was dominated by Sterling being recalled by Guardiola for only his third Premier League start of the season. De Bruyne wore the armband, with Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan and Ruben Dias not starting. Burnley also had to change their leader, with James Tarkowski deputising for Ben Mee, who has Covid.

An early goal is usually important in games like this and City took their chance following a patient build-up down the right as Bernardo teed up Foden on the edge of the box.

The England man’s strike failed to beat Nick Pope, but the keeper only succeeded in pushing the ball out to Bernardo, who gobbled up the rebound from three yards.

Burnley did well to stay in the game, with Pope blocking Joao Cancelo’s volley in the midriff.

They were given an unexpected chance to level after 21 minutes when Dwight McNeil’s pass saw Cornet get in behind Cancelo.

But Steffen, in only his second league appearance for City, raced out and spread his body to block Cornet’s shot with his chest.

The alarm showed the champions they needed a second goal. Riyad Mahrez blazed over with his left foot and Sterling was then denied by a block from Nathan Collins after meeting Mahrez’s cross with an acrobatic volley.

Sterling was less convincing when De Bruyne found him on the left angle of the penalty area and he miscontrolled.

The first half ended in heated fashion when Aymeric Laporte went in high on McNeil by the halfway line. Burnley’s Matt Lowton was incensed with the way the Spaniard left the ground with his challenge and remonstrated with a push on Laporte, though referee Martin Atkinson decided a yellow card was sufficient punishment.

Guardiola switched Foden and Sterling for the second half. The reward was almost immediate when Sterling and Bernardo combined on the left to set up Mahrez, whose rising shot clipped the top of the crossbar.

Sean Dyche sent on Ashley Barnes after 56 minutes and within seconds the Burnley forward had a chance in the box, only to sidefoot weakly into Steffen’s arms.

It was De Bruyne who grabbed