As Manchester City strive to keep pace with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, they headed to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium on Saturday to face a Cherries side that have not won in the league since Boxing Day.
BOU: Neto; Kerkez, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Smith; Cook, Christie; Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo; Solanke
MCI: Ederson; Aké, Dias, Akanji; Stones, Rodri; Nunes, Foden, Kovačić, Silva; Haaland
Despite a relatively slow start to proceedings on the South Coast, Manchester City found themselves ahead before the half-hour mark through Phil Foden.
With Erling Haaland’s initial strike saved well by Neto, the England international arrived on the scene to poke past the Bournemouth goalkeeper – kickstarting a spell of City dominance that would last for the remainder of the half.
Embed from Getty ImagesBournemouth came close to restoring parity after the break, as Marcus Tavernier was only able to drive his shot into the ground after latching onto an Antoine Semenyo cross.
He’d squander another chance too, firing wide of the woodwork after being played through on goal by Dominic Solanke – who himself would see a headed effort pinched away by Ederson.
Manchester City remain just a point off Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, and now have a tough run of games that will see them face Luton Town, Manchester United, Copenhagen and Liverpool before mid-March.
Bournemouth, by contrast, remain eight points clear of the drop zone. They face Leicester City in the Emirates FA Cup in midweek, before visiting Turf Moor next Sunday.
