- Pep Guardiola's injury-hit Man City face Bournemouth on Saturday
- Visitors are without a whole host of stars for upcoming fixture
- Erling Haaland rested in midweek Carabao Cup defeat
There are very few Premier League fixtures that are more one-sided than Bournemouth vs Manchester City.
The Cherries have never beaten their upcoming opponents, with City winning 19 of their 21 encounters. They've also won every Premier League duel since Bournemouth first earned promotion to the top flight in 2015.
However, City have their work cut out if they're to maintain that imperious record on Saturday. Bournemouth are a superb outfit without the ball and ever so awkward to play against and City's injuries undoubtedly makes them more susceptible to succumbing to Andoni Iraola's resurgent hosts this weekend.
Pep Guardiola's options are slim and here's the team he's likely to put out at the Vitality Stadium this weekend.
Man City predicted lineup vs Bournemouth (3-4-2-1)
GK: Ederson - The Brazilian goalkeeper earned a breather on Wednesday as Stefan Ortega started between the sticks, but he'll be back in here and hoping to add to his two Premier League clean sheets.
CB: Manuel Akanji - Despite pulling up in the warm-up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Akanji is expected to be fit for Saturday's game and City could do with his athleticism in the backline.
CB: Ruben Dias - Dias will be relatively fresh for this one having played just 45 minutes in midweek. He'll be tested by Bournemouth's willingness to lump balls in behind.
CB: Josko Gvardiol - A key figure in this City team, Gvardiol has been instrumental in their success at the start of 2024/25. He's a shoo-in when fit.
CM: John Stones - Akanji's inclusion means Stones could return to a hybrid role which would see him operate in the double pivot with the ball and at the heart of City's defence without it. Akanji would push out to right-back during defensive sequences, but the Swiss international is comfortable defending in wide areas.
CM: Mateo Kovacic - Ilkay Gundogan's struggles in a deeper role on Wednesday should see Guardiola change tack and return ball-carrying wizard Kovacic to the XI. The Croat has come up with a couple of big goals for the club this season.
RM: Bernardo Silva - The visitors have been compromised in wide areas and they'll be hopeful the injury picked up by Savinho in midweek is not a major one. With their options slim, Bernardo will be forced into a wide right position.
AM: Ilkay Gundogan - Gundogan may no longer have the legs to cope in defensive transition, but he's still an immensely wily performer who adds tremendous value in and around the opposition's box.
AM: Phil Foden - The England international stepped up big time when City were without key players last season and the Cityzens need to see it again from Foden this time around.
LM: Matheus Nunes - The former Wolves man is enjoying his best run of form in City colours, starring in a wide role. He was their standout performer in N17, with injuries to Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish making sure of his place in Saturday's team.
ST: Erling Haaland - After underwhelming those who triple captained him in FPL last weekend, Haaland is well-rested and ready to wreak havoc on the south coast.
