Confidence was high amongst the Manchester City camp as they welcomed Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium, with the Citizens having thrashed their cross-city rivals at Old Trafford last time out. The Cherries, by contrast, fell to a slender defeat to Liverpool on the South Coast in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
MCI: Ederson; Aké, Stones, Akanji; Doku, Kovacic, Rodri, Walker; Alvarez, Silva; Haaland
BOU: Radu; Kerkez, Kelly, Zabarnyi, Mepham, Aarons; Tavernier, Billing, Scott, Christie; Solanke
Bournemouth had done remarkably well to keep the hosts at bay for the opening half hour in East Manchester, but when Jérémy Doku found the back of the net on the thirty-minute mark, the floodgates soon opened – and the Belgian’s involvements would continue.
His fantastic cutback pass from the byline found Bernardo Silva, who slammed home his second goal of the season, with Manuel Akanji gaining the credit for the third goal after Doku’s shot deflected off the defender.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith Doku appearing to be in direct contention with Phil Foden for the starting left-wing spot, the Belgian teed up his positional rival for the fourth goal in the 64th minute – after the Englishman replaced a struggling Erling Haaland at half time.
Luis Sinisterra pulled one back for the Cherries with fifteen minutes remaining, but that would be nothing more than a consolation as Bernardo Silva restored the four-goal margin moments later, with Doku registering the assist again.
Replacing the Portuguese maestro, Oscar Bobb would contribute to the game’s final goal as he teed up Nathan Aké in the 88th minute, with the Dutchman planting a diving header past the Bournemouth goalkeeper.
Manchester City host BSC Young Boys in midweek ahead of a trip to Stamford Bridge, while Bournemouth prepare to welcome Newcastle United to the Vitality Stadium.
