Bournemouth vs. Manchester City: Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

When Manchester City visits the Vitality Stadium to take on Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, they will strive to maintain their Top-of-the-Premier League position.

The two clubs meet for the first time since February when Phil Foden's first-half goal helped the Citizens achieve a meager 1-0 away victory.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Bournemouth is one of three Premier League clubs, including Fulham and Newcastle United. They have won three, drawn three, and lost three of their first nine games this season; they have also scored and surrendered 11 goals each.

Having lost 1-0 at Leicester City at the start of October, the Cherries have picked up four points in their previous two games against Arsenal and Aston Villa. They won a hard-fought 2-0 home triumph, followed by a late-gasp 1-1 draw last weekend.

Signing from a club record Four points behind the top seven or eight points clear of the relegation zone, Evanilson produced a stunning 96th-minute equalizer to assist Andoni Iraola's team grab a point at Villa Park. They currently rank 11th in the Premier League standings.

Next for Bournemouth is a third straight meeting against a club from last season's top four; they want to defeat Man City for the first time in their history this weekend. Indeed, the most one team has met another without ever winning in English Football League history; the Cherries have drawn two and lost eighteen of their previous 20 league games.

Although Bournemouth has lost all 11 of its Premier League games against teams starting the day top of the table, the worst 100% loss rate against an opponent in the division's history, it has gathered seven of its 11 top-flight points on home ground this term, winning its last two matches in the process, which should give it some hope going into Saturday's contest.

Man City was punished to their first season loss on Wednesday night with a 2-1 setback against Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16 of the EFL Cup. Starting the season with a 14-game undefeated streak across all competitions (W11 D3).

An understrength, injury-hit Citizens team put up a commendable fight in North London. With Matheus Nunes's strike in first-half stoppage time, they had hope of a comeback. But a second-half equalizer finally escaped the eight-time EFL Cup champions, who had fallen out three times in four seasons before the quarterfinal run.

Given the "problems" he is handling, Pep Guardiola praised his team's "exceptional" performance. Indeed, the Catalan coach said that Man City is in "trouble" as he only has "13 players" at hand in the club's growing injury issue.

Man City may have lost in midweek, but their club-record 32-game undefeated run in the Premier League is still intact. They are the only top-flight team yet to lose this term. They are sitting at the top of the table and one point clear of Liverpool in second after winning seven and drawing two of their first nine games - most recently beating Southampton 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.

Having won all 14 Premier League encounters with Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 45-7 - the finest 100% record any club has against another in English top-flight history - the Citizens, who are also five points ahead of Arsenal in third, will like their chances of triumph on Saturday.

Bournemouth x Manchester City Team News

Alex Scott of Bournemouth is on the sidelines with a knee injury. At the same time, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (thigh), Luis Sinisterra (muscle), and Philip Billing (sickness) will all be evaluated ahead of the start after missing last weekend's game.

If Iraola makes any changes to his starting lineup, they are probably not too significant; Adam Smith may replace Julian Araujo at proper back and join Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, and Milos Kerkez in a four-person defense.

Evan Wilson will try to push his way back into the starting XI ahead of former Man City striker Enes Unal after scoring as a substitute last time; Marcus Tavernier or Justin Kluivert will be set to operate in the number 10 position.

Regarding Man City, they are still adjusting to losing recently crowned Ballon d'Or winner Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg fracture), Kevin De Bruyne (groin), Kyle Walker (knee), Jeremy Doku, and Jack Grealish (both unidentified) due to injury.

Savinho and Manuel Akanji, the former with a suspected ankle injury, were stretchered off against the Spurs, while the latter picked up a groin issue during the warm-up; both players surfaced as questions for Saturday. Josko Gvardiol will also be evaluated after a knock after Wednesday's encounter.

Ederson, Gvardiol—if fit—Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, and Erling Haaland anticipated participating in the starting XI. Guardiola might remember as many as five players who did not start in midweek.

Our Predictions

Manchester City to win @ 1.55 on Sky247.ng

After beating Arsenal and drawing with Aston Villa last time, Bournemouth will see Saturday's encounter as one of their finest chances to win their first-ever over an injury-ridden Man City team. They approach this game in great spirits.

Though understrength, there is still talent at Guardiola's disposal, and they may just do enough to come out on top in this one. It is impossible to write out the Citizens given their extraordinary record versus the Cherries.

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