Manchester City vs Bournemouth predictions: Cherries ripe for more Etihad despair

Steve Davies

Spotlight

Pep Guardiola's City found their champion form against United, cruising to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford

- City have won all 12 Premier League matches they have played against Bournemouth
- After nine games without a win, the Cherries broke their duck last weekend
- Recommended bet: Man City to win and over 3.5 goals

Manchester City produced one of the performances of the season last Sunday with a stylish 3-0 romp past Manchester United at Old Trafford.

There was a swagger about the champions which spells danger for Bournemouth, who in six seasons of playing City have never taken as much as a point off them.

Team news

Manuel Akanji is available to Pep Guardiola after sitting out the 3-0 win at Old Trafford through suspension. The Swiss could replace any of the back three with the City boss never shy to rotate his defence.

Kevin de Bruyne remains out so Bernardo Silva can be expected to run the midfield again from in and around Rodri and John Stones.

Chris Mepham and Illya Zabarnyi are set to be partnered together again in central defence for Bournemouth, while midfielder Lewis Cook is still banned.

Marcus Tavernier should be drafted back into the Cherries' front four after starting from the bench in the 2-1 loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

The stats

Andoni Iraola was finally able to register his first win as Bournemouth boss, although now he faces a tough test against the champions

City have won each of their last 14 home Premier League matches and have not failed to find the net at the Etihad in a league game since October 2021.

The Citizens have played Bournemouth 12 times in the Premier League, all since 2015, and won all 12 by a 38-6 aggregate scoreline.

Erling Haaland is the Premier League's top scorers with 11 goals. Four-goal Julian Alvarez, however, has landed first-scorer odds more often than the Norwegian, having opened the scoring with each of his four goals this season.

Bournemouth's 2-1 win against Burnley last weekend snapped a 13-game winless streak in the top flight.

Away from home they have taken one point out of a possible 12 this season, conceding at least two goals in all four fixtures.

Only Sheffield United have scored fewer league goals this season than Bournemouth, who have bagged eight in 10 games.

The Cherries allow 17.4 shots per game against them this season, second only to Sheffield United, while City allow just 6.8.

The latest Manchester City vs Bournemouth odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Predictions

A few weeks ago, after a League Cup loss to Newcastle and Premier League flops against Wolves and Arsenal, champions City were going through a crisis.

Fast forward to last weekend and a 3-0 cruise at Old Trafford against their neighbours United and Pep Guardiola's side have never looked better.

The truth, as ever with these things, is probably somewhere in between but there is no doubt that the visiting Cherries will be concerned that last weekend's majestic win at United does not set a tone for this match.

Bournemouth cannot keep a clean sheet for love nor money, especially on their travels, and last week's 2-1 win over Burnley, while welcome, should not have much of a bearing on this.

City always beat Bournemouth and usually thump them so expect more of the same.

Back Man City to win and over 3.5 goals at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet.