City aim to extend lead at top to five against Howe’s Cherries

Manchester City will be looking to extend their lead at the summit of the Premier League to five points when they face Bournemouth at the Etihad on Saturday.

A win for Pep Guardiola’s men will put the pressure on Liverpool, who take on Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth have impressed this season, currently sitting in eighth, but are looking to end a three-match losing run at The Etihad.

Their hopes for a result will undoubtedly lie on the shoulders of Callum Wilson, who has six goals this season. Alongside Wilson, Scottish winger Ryan Fraser has been a revelation this season, providing the most assists in the league this season with six, only matched by City’s Raheem Sterling.

Raheem Sterling is looking to become the first ever PL player to score in their first six matches against an opponent, after netting in City’s previous five victories against the Cherries (Photo: Man City)

The Citizens have won all six of their meetings with Bournemouth in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals and conceding just two. The Cherries will have to stop City’s Argentine striker Sergio Aguero, who already has eight goals this season, a feat only matched by Arsenals’s Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

Aguero scored twice in City’s 4-0 win in this fixture last season, with Guardiola’s side targeting a sixth consecutive league victory this time around. If they avoid defeat on Saturday, it will be the third time the club has gone 20 Premier League matches unbeaten.

Eddie Howe will take some confidence from his sides away record against reigning champions, beating Chelsea in 2015/16 and 2017/18 whilst drawing against Leicester City in 2016/17.

Bournemouth can rise as high as sixth if they pull off an unlikely win at the Etihad (Photo: Premier League)

City’s injury list have not stopped them continuing their momentum from last season and they will still be missing long-term absentees Claudio Bravo (achilles), Eliaquim Mangala (knee), Benjamin Mendy (knee) and Kevin De Bruyne (knee).

They will be hoping to welcome back Brazilian Gabriel Jesus, as he recovers from a groin injury whilst Ilkay Gundögan (foot) and Bernardo Silva (muscle) are slight concerns for the fixture.

Bournemouth only have two injury concerns heading into this weekends match, with Adam Smith still in the early stages of his recovery from a cartilage tear in his knee whilst Dan Gosling faces a late fitness test to be involved.

Prediction: Manchester City boasts a phenomenal record against Bournemouth and with them flying at the top of the league, Howe’s side could be in for a long day.

Manchester City 3 Bournemouth 0

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