AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City Predictions

• Man City have been level at HT in three of their last four Premier League games – all wins
• Bournemouth have been level at the break in five of their last six home league games
• Bernardo Silva has scored in four of his last seven away appearances for Man City

City taking their time to find top gear

Manchester City have been made to work for their points in the past week and their backers may need to remain patient when they face Bournemouth on the South Coast on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side rescued a draw at home to Chelsea last weekend to lose some ground in the title race and it looked like further damage was going to be done by Brentford in midweek. But it was the Bees who let it slip in the closing stages as Erling Haaland silenced his critics by racing through to score the only goal of the game.

City took time to find their top gears in both games and it must be a concern to Guardiola that his team are being made to play flat-out deep into games that they would usually have all wrapped up by the hour mark.

Blues used to blowing Bournemouth away

They usually blow Bournemouth away without too much bother, having beaten the Cherries on 14 consecutive occasions since the turn of the century. Ten of those wins saw City finish clear by two goals or more and Guardiola’s team have scored four or more goals in each of the last three.

Some might be reluctant to back the visitors to record such a convincing win this time given the events of the past week, but they should be boosted by the return of Kevin de Bruyne after he was rested against the physical Bees.

The Belgian has quickly rediscovered his best form since returning from a long-term hamstring injury and should help Haaland get over a slight dip in form. The Norwegian relies on De Bruyne’s service and can occasionally look a little clumsy when he is not quite on the same wavelength as other teammates.

City may need a half-time Pep talk

City remain machine-like on the road, having won four straight league games, but they have been ahead at half time in none of those games. Bournemouth’s record at home suggests that pattern could repeat here with the Cherries having been level at the interval in five of their last six contests at the Vitality Stadium.

Andoni Iraola’s team are a good pressing team now and have become regular scorers in the early stages of games, netting before the break in five of their last seven on the South Coast.

They look good for a goal here too given City have conceded in six consecutive away league games, but the outstanding play looks to be backing the visitors to win from a position of parity at the half – which they have done in three of their last four top-flight matches.