John Stones: 'Manchester City success fuelled by competition between forwards'

John Stones has claimed that Manchester City's current success is being fuelled by competition between the forwards.

The Citizens have opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table thanks to their 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday.

In recent matches, City have achieved emphatic wins over Liverpool, Watford, Crystal Palace and Stoke City, scoring 42 goals in just 13 games.

Pep Guardiola's charges have also equalled a club record by winning their last 11 games in succession.

"The strikers are on form now," Stones told Sky Sports News. "The competition in training is making them want to be better and score more goals.

"When they are on the pitch they have got to take their chances and that is what they are doing.

"To keep clean sheets, keep winning and keep beating every opposition that comes in front of us is a new challenge every week.

"Every game is crucial because football is always changing and things can happen. The goal difference and things like that, everything could come into play."

City are undefeated in all competitions so far this season and have only failed to win one game in 2017-18, a 1-1 draw at home to Everton in August.