Manchester City failed to make up ground on the Premier League front-runners after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
City recalled goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, Rico Lewis, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish who started for the first time at his former home since teaming up with the reigning champions.
Villa caused problems seconds after kick-off with Ortega called to make himself big at the near post to repel a powerful header by Pau Torres.
The Clarets did though take the lead in the opening quarter as Jhon Duran tapped in from the area following a low first-time delivery by Morgan Rogers.
City attempted a quick response where a period of forward passes looked to unlock Grealish and Erling Haaland, but Matty Cash covered up at the back.
Winger Phil Foden went close for the visitors just before halftime with a low effort towards the bottom-corner after cutting inside, but Emiliano Martinez palmed away for a corner-kick.
Pep Guardiola looked to inject a bit of confidence in his team at the break and preferred to introduce Kyle Walker from the bench in the place of Stones.
Villa targeted a second just after the break with Cash coming short to the area following a layoff by Youri Tielemans, but he ended up finding the side-netting.
Rogers could've handed the host a second a few moments from the break through a low shot in the box following Dhuran's flick-on, but he was denied by the upright.
The hard-tackling midfielder did get his desire nonetheless midway through the second period when he latched onto John McGinn's delivery around the area and finished smartly.
City were struggling to get anything going but got one back deep in added time as Foden tucked cleverly and opened his account in the league for the season.
However, there were no time to produce a comeback for the reigning champions and saw Villa claimed the win to go fifth on the table.