City need a win to stay in touch with Arsenal

Manchester City v Bournemouth preview

Two of the chasing pack at the table face off.

Author | Macca

Stadium | Etihad Stadium

When Erling Haaland fails to deliver, Manchester City often follows suit. The Norwegian drew a blank for only the second time in this season’s Premier League campaign (the other coming in August’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham) and City once again struggled to find a breakthrough, this time against Aston Villa.

Unai Emery’s side earned a deserved victory in the West Midlands, with Matty Cash’s first-half goal proving decisive. The result handed City their third league defeat of the campaign and left them six points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

City team news

Neither Erling Haaland nor 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri featured in City’s victory over Swansea, with the Norwegian striker nursing the effects of a collision with the goalpost at Villa Park. Both players have since returned to full training and appear on course to be available for selection this weekend.

Pep Guardiola could therefore have a full squad to choose from for Bournemouth’s visit. Haaland will be keen to make amends against the Cherries, having scored only once every 439 minutes against them in the Premier League – his second-lowest ratio against any side after Newcastle United, where he averages one every 447 minutes.

Rayan Cherki impressed in Phil Foden’s absence in midweek with a goal and an assist, but Foden is expected to return to the starting line-up for what will be his 200th Premier League appearance, a milestone no younger player has ever reached for Manchester City.

A closer look at the opposition

Eighteen points from nine games represents Bournemouth's highest-ever total at this point of a top-flight season, one more than the 17 they accrued under Eddie Howe at this stage in 2018-19.

They may have parted ways with several key players over the summer, but they remain a potent attacking force, led by the in-form Antoine Semenyo.

The Ghanaian winger has been central to their threat in the final third, contributing six goals and three assists in nine Premier League outings, including an eye-catching double at Anfield on the opening weekend.

Teenage forward Eli Junior Kroupi has also emerged as a major danger in recent weeks, scoring four times in his last three league games, capped by a spectacular long-range strike against Nottingham Forest. With both Semenyo and Kroupi blessed with pace and directness, City will need to stay disciplined to guard against Bournemouth’s counter-attacking menace on Sunday.