Premier League | Gameweek 10

Nov 2, 2024 at 3pm UK

Vitality Stadium

Bournemouth vs Man City

Match preview

Bournemouth are one of three Premier League teams, along with Fulham and Newcastle United, who have won three, drawn three and lost three of their opening nine matches this season. They've also scored and conceded 11 goals each.

Since losing 1-0 at Leicester City at the beginning of October, the Cherries have picked up four points across their last two games against Arsenal and Aston Villa. They beat Arsenal 2-0 at home, and drew with Aston Villa last weekend.

Evanilson, who set a new club record, scored a dramatic equaliser in the 96th minute to help Andoni Iraola's side snatch a point at Villa Park. They now sit 11th in the Premier League table, four points behind the top seven and eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Bournemouth are up against Manchester City for the third time in a row this weekend, and they're aiming to beat them for the first time in their history. It's worth noting that the Cherries have drawn two and lost 18 of their previous 20 league meetings. This is the most one side has faced another without ever winning in English Football League history.

Bournemouth have also lost all 11 of their Premier League games against teams that were top of the table at the start of the day. That's the worst 100% loss rate against an opponent in the division's history. But they've collected seven of their 11 top-flight points on home soil this term. They've also won their last two matches, which should give them some confidence heading into Saturday's contest.

After kicking off the season with a 14-game unbeaten streak across all competitions (W11 D3), Man City suffered their first loss of the campaign on Wednesday night when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16 of the EFL Cup.

The Citizens put up a good fight in North London despite being understrength and missing several players due to injury. Matheus Nunes's strike in first-half stoppage time gave them hope of a comeback. But a second-half equaliser didn't come for the eight-time EFL Cup winners, who have crashed out before the quarter-final stage for the third time in four seasons.

Pep Guardiola praised his team's "exceptional" performance, despite the challenges they've been facing. Guardiola has said that City are in trouble because he only has 13 players left after a spate of injuries.

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

The Citizens are also five points clear of Arsenal in third and will fancy their chances of success on Saturday. They have won all 14 Premier League meetings with Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 45-7, which is the best 100% record any team has against another in English top-flight history. Meanwhile, City can equal two of Chelsea's top-flight records if they avoid defeat against the Cherries.

Recent Performance

Bournemouth Premier League form:LLWLWD

Manchester City Premier League form:WDDWWW

Manchester City form (all competitions):WWWWWL

Team News

Alex Scott from Bournemouth is going to be out for a while with a knee injury. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (thigh) and Luis Sinisterra (muscle) have also been ruled out.

Iraola also said it's "very unlikely" that Dango Ouattara will be available this weekend, but Philip Billing has been training and is ready to return to the matchday squad after missing the draw at Villa through illness.

It looks like Mark Travers will be in goal while Kepa is out. Marcus Tavernier might come back in for Ouattara, and Evanilson is hoping to get back into the first XI ahead of Enes Unal, who used to play for Manchester City.

Guardiola has revealed that he has a lot of injury doubts at Man City, including winger Savinho, who was stretchered off against Spurs with a "strong knock" to his ankle and "no fracture".

We'll also be checking on Manuel Akanji (groin) and Josko Gvardiol (knock). It looks like Kevin De Bruyne (groin), Kyle Walker (knee), Jeremy Doku (muscle) and Jack Grealish (knock) will stay on the sidelines, along with Rodri (ACL) and Oscar Bobb (leg fracture).

Guardiola might bring back as many as five players who didn't play on Wednesday. Ederson, Josko Gvardiol (if he's fit), Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland could all start.

Possible starting lineups

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Tavernier, Kluivert; Evanilson

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ederson; Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Bernardo, Gundogan, Foden, Nunes; Haaland