New Delhi: Manchester City are back in Premier League action on the south coast as they face a Bournemouth side brimming with confidence after some solid results. City, currently top of the league, aim to put their Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham behind them, a defeat that didn’t seem to bother Pep Guardiola much. The early cup exit has, after all, given them some breathing room in what’s set to be a hectic 2024/25 season.
Guardiola’s side faces an injury crisis, with key names like Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jeremy Doku all ruled out. However, Erling Haaland is expected to return after resting midweek, hoping to inspire a positive response. Meanwhile, Bournemouth are on a high, having beaten Arsenal and held Aston Villa to a draw, and they’ll want to break their poor record against City, whom they’ve never beaten in 21 tries.
Bournemouth will miss Alex Scott in midfield and might also be without Kepa Arrizabalaga, but big-money striker Evanilson should start after scoring off the bench last week. It’s shaping up to be an intriguing clash as both teams fight to make a statement.
