Bournemouth vs Manchester City preview: Kevin De Bruyne yet to burst into life this season but could be a match-winner for Pep Guardiola
Football Whispers analyse both Manchester City's and Bournemouth's performances so far ahead of their clash this weekend
MANCHESTER CITY had to fight hard on Monday night, battling back to save a point against a spirited Everton side.
On Saturday they travel south to face a Bournemouth team still looking for their first Premier League goal this season.
Pep Guardiola’s outfit have looked great at points, but Kyle Walker’s red card on Monday put them on the back foot against the Toffees.
They would also have been expected to score more than twice against Brighton.
Defeats to West Bromwich Albion and Watford cast a cloud over the Cherries’ campaign.
Eddie Howe has a good young team, but with Jermaine Defoe sitting on the bench, they look a little toothless in the final third.
The game takes place at 12.30pm on Saturday at the Vitality Stadium and will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Our friends at Football Whispers have broken down the key battles and where the game will be won and lost.
Key Battle: Josh King v Fernandinho
Against Everton it was Fernandinho’s inability to close down Dominic Calvert-Lewin that opened up the space down the right, giving him time to provide Wayne Rooney with the killer pass for the Toffees’ opener.
Man City’s defensive midfield position is still one of their weaker roles – particularly while Ilkay Gundogan remains sidelined – and that’s where Bournemouth could create chances.
Josh King, able to play as a striker or a little deeper, could drop into the gaps left by the Brazilian and look to pick up possession in the space between midfield and the back three. Then hope that runs from his supporting cast can fashion some openings.
The Tottenham transfer target scored a career-best 16 goals in the Premier League last term and if he can repeat that the Cherries will be halfway to another strong showing.
Potential Match-winners
After some stunning performances last season, Kevin De Bruyne has yet to burst into life this term.
Playing just behind the strikers, with space to exploit down the right-flank against Charlie Daniels and Nathan Ake, it could be a fruitful afternoon for the Belgian.
Searching for their first goal of the campaign, Bournemouth won’t be able to sit back and soak up pressure, leaving opportunities for the 26-year-old to threaten their back four.
To that end, Howe might finally give Defoe his first Premier League start after his summer move from Sunderland. Up against one of the best teams in the country, you need a clinical finisher, someone to get one chance and take it.
So far this term, that’s not been Benik Afobe. With the Cherries averaging just 7.5 shots per game, Defoe could be the ideal man, if given a chance.
Managers’ tactics
Howe has utilised a 4-4-1-1 formation in Bournemouth’s opening two games. However, in the 2-0 home defeat to City last season, the Cherries switched to 4-1-4-1 and that could be the ploy on Saturday, matching City’s numbers in the middle of the park.
Last term Eddie Howe was able to call upon Arsenal loanee Jack Wilshere to pull the strings. Now without the England international, it will be a much more rigid system challenging Guardiola’s unit.
Playing 4-4-1-1 would allow King to look for space to hit them on the break, sacrificing the Norway international could end up fully isolating their lone front-man.
Guardiola has gone to three at the back so far this campaign, and he is unlikely to deviate from that on Saturday. Still without Benjamin Mendy, and with Walker suspended, a stand-in will need to be sought at left wing-back.
Up front, the combination of Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero hasn’t quite clicked into gear, but they will fancy their chances at the Vitality Stadium.
If the Catalan boss is building towards the future, he won’t want to change too much at this stage.
Predicted line-ups
Bournemouth aren’t expected to make too many changes to the team that lost to Watford. Defoe could be handed his first start, and with an expected goals rating of 1 last week, having a proven finisher up front could make all the difference.
With Walker and Mendy out, Leroy Sane might to have to fill in at left-back, perhaps leaving City a little vulnerable down that flank.
Danilo will switch to right-back, and there is a chance one or two midfield places could be altered.
Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling started on the bench against Everton, allowing for a couple of tweaks.
Key Stat
This will be the 11th time these two sides have ever met, with Bournemouth yet to record a victory over the Manchester club.
Back in 1999 they managed to pick up a point, holding City to a 0-0 draw in the old Division 2.
The Cherries have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their four Premier League games, scoring just once, but conceding 15.
