The Citizens obliterated Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend and have ambitions on securing another league title. Back-to-back defeats against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal derailed their excellent start to the season but Pep Guardiola&aposs men are now on the right track once again, winning their last three matches.
They are facing a Bournemouth team that are on the up after coming from behind to secure their first league win of the season against Burnley. Phillip Billing&aposs audacious 45-yard lob proved to be the difference, giving manager Andoni Iraola some much-needed respite.
City will be without long-term absentee Kevin de Bruyne, who does not have a set return date yet. The Belgian is considered City&aposs best player so their excellence in his absence is a testament to the strength of their squad.
Other than that, it could be a full-strength squad for the home team. Manuel Akanji returns from his one-match suspension with everybody else vying for a spot in the eleven.
Bournemouth have a few more issues with Lewis Cook serving the second match of his suspension. Neto, Tyler Adams, Ryan Fredericks and Emiliano Marcondes are all out with injury.
Mark Travers could feature after being brought back early from his loan spell at Stoke City, following Neto&aposs injury, with fellow keeper Darren Randolph also set to miss out through illness. Ionut Radu was between the sticks for the Burnley victory, though, so he is likely to keep his place.
Predicted Man City line-up: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland
Predicted Bournemouth line-up: Radu; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez; Scott, Billing; Semenyo, Christie, Kluivert; Solanke
There are goals in this Bournemouth team and they have merited more in some of the matches they have played in this season. Still, their expansive style of play does seem like a recipe for disaster against the champions of England and Europe.
City do have a habit of leaking the odd goal here and there so the Cherries could get some joy with their attacking talents on the field. But this looks like a day for Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez to get their goalscoring numbers up.
Prediction: Man City 5-1 Bournemouth
City are priced at 1/11 as the clear favourites with bet365. A draw represents a good potential return at 11/1 with a Bournemouth victory coming in at a whopping 20/1.
Julian Alvarez as the first scorer is 4/1 which represents decent odds for a player in his form. Haaland is obviously the favourite to break the deadlock at a less appetising 13/8.
