Manchester City will attempt to remain top of the Premier League pile when they travel to Bournemouth on Saturday. The pair meet at Vitality Stadium where Phil Foden secured a 1-0 win earlier this year. The Cherries are facing a third straight game against one of last season’s top four and have never beaten this weekend’s visitors in their history.
Andoni Iraola’s men have drawn two and lost 18 of their all-time meetings with City which is the most that one English side has faced another without winning. Bournemouth fare poorly against teams top of the EPL table with a 100% losing streak although they have picked up seven of their 11 points so far when playing at home. Two of those wins should give the hosts something to fight for against a vulnerable City.
Despite losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup in midweek, their 32-game EPL unbeaten run is still going and they are the only topflight side without a loss this campaign. Pep Guardiola’s men are one point clear of Liverpool after seven wins and two draws from nine which is also five points better than Arsenal. Ahead of this one, the aggregate score for City against Bournemouth is 45-7 which in English soccer’s leading head-to-head record between any two clubs.
Here are our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 2 | Time: 11 a.m. ET
- Location: Vitality Stadium – Bournemouth, England
- Watch: Peacock Premium
- Odds: Bournemouth +450; Draw +333; City -167
Season so far
Bournemouth have won three, drawn three and lost three along with Fulham and Newcastle United with 11 goals scored and conceded. After a 1-0 loss to Leicester City in early October, the Cherries have picked up four points from their two games against Arsenal and Aston Villa. Iraola’s men are 11th in the Premier League standings with four points less than the top seven but eight points clear of relegation. City started the season with a 14-game unbeaten run across all competitions which has since ended at the hands of Spurs in the EFL Cup which represents a third exit before the quarterfinal stage in four years in the competition.
Team news
Bournemouth: Alex Scott is out while Kepa Arrizabalaga, Luis Sinisterra and Philip Billing will all face late fitness tests. Iraola could bring Adam Smith in for Julian Araujo alongside Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi and Milos Kerkez in defense. Evanilson will hope to start ahead of Enes Unal with Marcus Tavernier or Justin Kluivert as the No. 10.
Possible Bournemouth XI: Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson.
City: Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is out long-term, Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish are all injured. The Citizens could also be missing Savinho and Manuel Akanji while Josko Gvardiol faces a late fitness test. Guardiola could bring Ederson, Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland back into the starting XI if all are fit and ready.
Possible City XI: Ederson; Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Bernardo, Gundogan, Foden, Nunes; Haaland.
Prediction
The Cherries could run the Citizens close but ultimately Guardiola’s men should trump Iraola’s side here. A draw would not be out of the question but the EPL leaders need to keep their winning momentum at all costs to keep top spot. Pick: Bournemouth 1, City 2.
