Manchester City will aim to consolidate the spot atop the Premier League table when they take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
The 2024/25 Premier League season resumes this weekend with Gameweek 10, with the latest round of fixtures kicking off with the game between Arsenal and Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. The action on Saturday will continue with five simultaneous matches, including Bournemouth vs Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth could not have hoped for a better start to the 2024/25 season after losing Dominic Solanke in the summer transfer window. Despite selling their best player, the Cherries have been solid while clinching one shock win already, beating Arsenal 2-0 last month. So, Andoni Iraola continues making his mark at the Vitality Stadium, with Bournemouth in contention for a top-half finish.
As for Manchester City, they have not been at their dominant best in the first few weeks of the 2024/25 season. While the Citizens are atop the Premier League table, they have dropped points in two games and clinched unconvincing wins in their last two top-flight games. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s men head into this weekend’s clash on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup round of 16.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Manchester City eke out a narrow 1-0 win over Bournemouth, with Phil Foden scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola has new roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bournemouth manager might be bereft of the services of four first-team players vs Manchester City on Saturday.
Iraola is sweating over the fitness of Kepa Arrizabalaga (groin), Philip Billing (illness), and Luis Sinisterra (muscle) ahead of Saturday’s game, although the trio should be available to take on Manchester City. However, Alex Scott remains the long-term absentee due to a knee injury.
Kepa should take his spot between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester City on Saturday. The backline should feature Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, and Milos Kerkez.
As for the midfield unit, Lewis Cook should pair up with Ryan Christie in the double pivot, with the duo looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Marcus Tavernier will likely reprise the no. 10 role instead of Justin Kluivert. Finally, Evanilson will lead the line for Bournemouth against Manchester City, with Antoine Semenyo and Dango Ouattara being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson
Manchester City
Like his counterpart in the Bournemouth dugout, Pep Guardiola has new injury concerns to worry about ahead of the trip to the Vitality Stadium. The Manchester City manager might be without as many as nine first-team players on Saturday.
Savinho is the latest absentee, with the summer signing picking up an ankle injury earlier this week. The Brazilian attacker has joined Kyle Walker (knee), Rodri (ACL), Kevin De Bruyne (groin), Oscar Bobb (leg), Jack Grealish (unspecified), and Jeremy Doku (knock) on the sidelines. In addition, Guardiola is sweating over the fitness of Josko Gvardiol (face) and Manuel Akanji (groin).
Ederson Moraes is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester City lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Saturday. The backline should feature Rico Lewis, John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol.
As for the midfield unit, Mateo Kovacic will pair up with Matheus Nunes in the double pivot, with Ilkay Gundogan reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Erling Haaland will lead the line for Manchester City against Bournemouth, with Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Nunes; Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, Foden; Haaland
Key Stats
- Bournemouth have won none of their 20 league games vs Manchester City (D2 L18). It is the most one side has faced another without ever winning in English Football League history. The Citizens have won all 14 Premier League games against Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 45-7. That is the best 100% record any team has against another in English top-flight history.
- Bournemouth have lost all 11 Premier League games against sides starting the day top of the table, the worst 100% loss rate in the competition’s history.
- Bournemouth have won their last two Premier League home games, including a 2-0 win over Arsenal last time out. Only three times previously have they emerged victorious in three successive matches at the Vitality Stadium, though the most recent occasion was in March/April this year.
- Manchester City are unbeaten in all 28 Premier League games thus far in 2024 (W23 D5). Only two teams in English top-flight history have had a longer run without defeat from the start of a calendar year – Chelsea in 2005 (29) and Nottingham Forest in 1978 (35).
- Bournemouth have had more shots following a high turnover than any other side in the Premier League this season (20). However, Manchester City have faced a league-low three such shots thus far this term.
Player to Watch
Phil Foden
Phil Foden endured a slow start to the 2024/25 season after returning late from his excursions with the English national team at UEFA Euro 2024. Pep Guardiola has eased him into the thick of things this term, and the academy graduate has only recently started growing in stature.
Meanwhile, Foden has scored in his last five outings against Bournemouth in all competitions (five goals), also providing three assists in these games. So, with Erling Haaland not at his best in recent games, the Englishman will be the go-to man for Guardiola as the Manchester City manager looks for someone to deliver the goods vs Bournemouth.
Prediction
Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City
Manchester City might have bowed out of the EFL Cup earlier this week. However, Pep Guardiola did not take the competition seriously and will name his strongest team to take on Bournemouth this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Cherries are no pushovers and will take the game to their visitors. It might not be surprising to see Bournemouth take the lead vs Manchester City, with Antoine Semenyo making his mark. However, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden should rise to the occasion, delivering the three points for the away side. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.