There are three fixtures in the Premier League on Sunday, one of which takes place at the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth welcome the defending champions, Manchester City. Both teams come into this game undefeated this season.
Bournemouth sit 7th in the Premier League at the time of writing on 4 points, with Manchester City in 3rd place. The Citizens have the same number of points as the Cherries but they have much superior goal difference.
Eddie Howe’s team started the season with games against two newly promoted teams. The home game with Sheffield United was expected to be the easiest of those two games but they were forced to settle for a draw. However, 2 goals in the first half against Aston Villa was enough to earn a 2-1 win at Villa Park.
Trends show Bournemouth have been struggling at home lately and have managed just one win in their last seven Premier League matches at the Vitality Stadium. The win came over Tottenham Hotspur toward the end of last season and Bournemouth have lost on home soil against Manchester City, Burnley and Fulham.
They have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven home league games and have scored just 3 goals in their last four. Bournemouth clearly need to improve at both ends of the pitch when playing in-front for their own fans.
Manchester City have little to worry about when it comes to playing away from home. They brushed aside West Ham United in a 5-0 demolition on the opening weekend of the season. However, they did not produce the same when facing Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium last weekend and were held to a 2-2 draw. VAR intervened to deny them a winning goal at the end of the match.
Trends show Manchester City have been enjoying playing away in the Premier League. They have won each of their last eight matches on the road and kept a clean sheet in six of those eight games, which is a fantastic record.
Manchester City also have little trouble in scoring goals away from home and they have netted 2 or more goals in five of their last six away matches.
Can we please talk about how effortless that @YayaToure assist was?! 🤧🔥🗓 #OnThisDay🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/1dJMO2eGo7— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 23, 2019
Can we please talk about how effortless that @YayaToure assist was?! 🤧🔥🗓 #OnThisDay🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/1dJMO2eGo7
Looking ahead to the team news and Bournemouth continue to deal with a lengthy injury list. David Brooks, Dan Gosling, Lewis Cook, Simon Francis, Lloyd Kelly, Junior Stanislas and Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld are all on the treatment table. Howe could stick with the same starting XI from last week.
Manchester City have two long term casualties of their own in Leroy Sane and Benjamin Mendy. Gabriel Jesus could get the nod up-front in place of Sergio Aguero.
Bournemouth have failed to beat Manchester City in 14 attempts and that run is likely to continue. Manchester City look to have plenty of goals in them again this season but it is their away defensive record which is most impressive. Expect to see Manchester City win.