Bournemouth vs Manchester City – Match Preview

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Manchester City’s championship duel with Liverpool saw no signs of let up in midweek as both sides managed to earn victories and in turn keep the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just a solitary point.

City entertained West Ham on Wednesday night and were arguably showing signs of Carabao Cup Final fatigue. Pep Guardiola’s men were creating plenty of chances as usual but lacked anything resembling a killer blow in the first half.

Therefore, the award of a penalty 15 minutes after the restart would have been a very welcome present indeed and it is the kind of gift that Argentine forward Sergio Aguero rarely decides to turn down.

His strike from 12 yards meant that the Hammers stubborn resistance was finally broken down and although it won’t be listed in the pantheon of great home victories for City, it will arguably be just as important.

This weekend they make the trip down to the South Coast to visit a Bournemouth side who were on the end of a thrashing from Arsenal on Wednesday night. A performance that you would have to say was most unlike what you would usually see from the Cherries.

With Bournemouth currently lying in mid-table and all but assured another season in the Premier League next time around, there is the fear that once again Eddie Howe’s players have mentally checked out way before the end of the campaign.

In fairness it is also difficult to blame them at the same time, fundamentally Bournemouth have all but reached their ultimate objective and that of course is making sure that they are not one of the three teams that end up being relegated.

Therefore, with the players harder to motivate in these final couple of months of the season, it does mean that they are there for the taking and Arsenal have already taken full advantage of this dip in intensity.

And if Arsenal can put five past a usually solid Bournemouth outfit, then there is no reason as to why City cannot manage to produce a similar goal haul themselves, especially as goal difference could be absolutely key in terms of who wins the Premier League trophy this season.

As things stand City have got the better goal difference compared to Liverpool, although that could soon change if the latter decide that they are in in the mood to hand out a similar thrashing to the one that they dealt to Watford in midweek.

Therefore, Pep Guardiola will have undoubtedly targeted this game as one where not only a win is imperative, but also the ideal opportunity in which to rack up further mileage on an already healthy goal difference.

Bournemouth have not won any of their last four league outings and there is little to suggest that this run comes to and end on Saturday. The question that everyone will be asking is not if City win, but ultimately by how many goals.