AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City FC
Date: 26/08/17
K.O: 12.30pm
TV: Sky Sports Premier League
Both Bournemouth and Man City will be hoping to bounce back after disappointing results last weekend. The Cherries went down 2-0 at home to Watford while City relied on a late equaliser to claim a point at home to Everton.
South coast club Bournemouth are yet to score in 2017-18 and have lost both of their games so far. Eddie Howe may choose to stick with many of the side which advanced in the Carabao Cup in midweek with a 2-1 win over Championship outfit Birmingham City.
Jermain Defoe, signed from Sunderland in the summer, has yet to start a game for Bournemouth in the Premier League and Howe may choose to give him his bow on Saturday, knowing a lethal striker capable of producing something from a half chance on the counter attack may be key against a City side who are likely to dominate the ball.
Elsewhere, Lewis Cook and Dan Gosling will be hoping to retain their places in midfield ahead of Andrew Surman and Harry Arter, while Marc Pugh and Lys Mousset also impressed, linking up for the former’s goal on Tuesday.
Club captain Simon Francis remains sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered in Bournemouth’s opening day loss to West Brom, while Callum Wilson and Junior Stanislas are still to recover from long term injuries.
Like Howe, Pep Guardiola also faces a number of selection dilemma’s after last week. Kyle Walker will miss out through suspension following his red card against Everton and Danilo will likely deputise in his place.
Raheem Sterling, scorer of City’s equaliser on Monday night, and Bernardo Silva both impressed from the bench, providing a direct incisive play that we were yet to see from the Sky Blues this season. Both will be hoping to have done enough to force their way into the starting lineups.
Benjamin Mendy faces a race against time to be fit for this encounter, with Leroy Sane likely to continue at left wing back in his absence. Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan made his return from injury for City’s Under 23s last week and will likely return to the City bench next week, if not this.
Written by Sam Hanys.