AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City Predictions

• Man City have gone five games without a clean sheet
• The visitors have kept only four clean sheets in 2023 across all competitions
• Bournemouth have scored in six of their last seven at home
• The Cherries have conceded three goals in all four meetings with the top four, losing each

Shaky week for City

After putting themselves in the driving seat for the Premier League title, City have struggled through two poor performances. The Citizens dropped back down to second after last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest. They then drew 1-1 away to RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

Given the high expectations which City have built for themselves, consecutive draws have been seen as an issue. The fact that they looked like the better side at the Red Bull Arena hasn’t really be highlighted. Instead, the focus has been on Erling Haaland, who has gone two games without a goal.

However, City remain the favourites in their Champions League tie and they’re still being backed for another Premier League title despite their slip last weekend. This ‘slump’ hasn’t impacted their odds this weekend, either. The Citizens head to the Vitality Stadium as heavy favourites to see off Bournemouth.

Cherries can cause problems

While the focus on Haaland is a bit overblown, there do seem to be issues with City defensively. They’ve gone without a clean sheet in their last five games. City have kept only four clean sheets in 2023 and two of those came against a non-existent Chelsea attack.

Bournemouth aren’t exactly a free-flowing side, but they made smart moves in January which boosted their frontline. The Cherries have also put together a solid run at home, where they have scored in six of their last seven matches. Bournemouth played Newcastle in their last game at the Vitality and they looked lively, causing issues for the best defence in the league.

City head into this one having kept just one clean sheet across their last six league trips, which again came against misfiring Chelsea. Something does feel a little off with City and they meet an improving Bournemouth side who average a goal per game at home this term. With the visitors not dominating games as they do at their very best I see openings for the hosts, making both teams to score my prediction.

Grealish can fire City to victory

City have more than enough attacking options to give Haaland a bit of a break, with Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish in good form. Mahrez stepped up in midweek, but Grealish looks like a good option to find the net this weekend.

Grealish has been involved in seven goals across his 18 league games for City this season, racking up three goals and four assists. That’s one more than he managed in 26 appearances last term, while all of those goal involvements this season have come across nine appearances away from home. That includes two strikes in his last four league trips, so he’s a good anytime scorer option this weekend.

City may be going through a tough spell, but they should prove too strong for the Cherries. The hosts have lost all their meetings with the top four, conceding at least three times in each. Meanwhile, City have won by two goals in 13 of their 16 league wins this term and given their defensive issues, a 3-1 away win is my correct score prediction.