Manchester City vs Bournemouth Prediction: These two can deliver some early fireworks

After losing to Aston Villa last time out in the Premier League, Manchester City will be determined to get back on track when they welcome AFC Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday (16:30 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event).

The Cherries head here sat second in the table and they themselves will look to build on last week's triumph over Nottingham Forest. Read on for my Manchester City vs Bournemouth predictions, supported by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Manchester City's goal machine Erling Haaland was rested in midweek against Swansea City in the Carabao Cup following a collision with the post at Villa Park last weekend. The striker is set to feature here, though, having been spotted in training, as well as midfield fulcrum Rodri.

Phil Foden is likely to be recalled to the side on Sunday and it will be a momentous occasion for the midfielder as it will be his 200th appearance in the Premier League - and he'd be the youngest to hit this milestone in a City shirt.

Boss Pep Guardiola has no fresh injury concerns to deal with and everyone is now back and available for selection, which could be a huge boost as the hectic winter schedule nears.

Premier League Odds

Bournemouth forward Enes Unal is back available after a nine-month absence, and he will provide Andoni Iraola with another option in the final third. Evanilson is thought to be in consideration to make the trip up north following a calf issue, but the in-form Eli Junior Kroupi has excelled in recent weeks and is deserving of leading the line at the Etihad.

Like City, the Cherries have no other concerns to worry about ahead of Sunday, which also comes as a boost to the visitors.

Today's Football Fixtures

Manchester City vs Bournemouth Odds

Man City have won 75% (3/4) of their home league matches this season and they are perceived as the 1/2 favourites to come out on top here.

Bournemouth have drawn three of their past five Premier League fixtures and the stalemate is valued at 18/5, which has an implied probability of 21.7%.

The Cherries are 11/2 to collect the three points but they have managed just one victory on their travels so far.

Four of the visitors' last five away trips in the top flight have produced four or more goals and over 3.5 goals can be backed at 11/8.

Both Teams To Score Yes and Over 3.5 Goals @ 7/4

This is a very exciting clash on paper because both sides have started the season well, Bournemouth in particular given that they lost a lot of key personnel over the summer and rumours continue to swirl about star man Antoine Semenyo.

Nevertheless, Iraola continues to excel with the cards in front of him and the Cherries have been most impressive in the first few months of the campaign. Their goal tally of 16 is only bettered by City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea (all 17).

So with two of the top-scoring teams in the division colliding, it's only fair to assume that this contest will have no shortage of goals. Both teams to score and over 3.5 goals has been a successful bet in three of Bournemouth's last four outings in the Premier League, two of which came on their travels.

I think this will be one of City's toughest tests to date in the league in 2025/26 and it wouldn't at all surprise me to see the Cherries leave M11 with something.

Eli Junior Kroupi anytime goalscorer @ 11/4

Semenyo may be the next Bournemouth star to command a big fee but it looks like Kroupi won't be far behind. The 19-year-old Frenchman has had a bright start to life in the Premier League, bagging four goals in six appearances to date.

Three of them have come in the last two matches, so the teenager should be full of confidence heading to the Etihad. Man City may be scoring plenty of goals but they still look a bit suspect defensively, and Kroupi has that star quality that can punish them if they make any errors.

Offers

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