Manchester City will make the trip to the Vitality Stadium as they look to grasp the potentially accessible 2nd spot as Tottenham Hotspur face Liverpool at Anfield. The Sky Blues have been good in recent weeks and have strung together wins against West Ham United and Swansea City. City moved back into the 3rd spot after favourable results elsewhere last weekend. And Pep will hope that their worst phase and worst results are behind them as they look to solidify their place in the Top 4. City’s excellent new look strike force has got them the desired results but with it, several questions have been raised, not least the future of Sergio Aguero at the club. The arrival of Gabriel Jesus has changed the dynamics at the Etihad and he has well and truly outshone all the other players, including the City legend.
Coming back to the match, City have already dispatched Bournemouth earlier in the season in a period where the Sky Blues were firing on all cylinders. Things have changed but the Cherries have to come up with something extraordinary to get the 3 points against Pep’s boys.
It is difficult to second guess Pep Guardiola’s teams and it is expected true to habit, he will make a number of changes and a couple of surprises are surely in store.
PREDICTED MANCHESTER CITY LINE-UP VS BOURNEMOUTH (4-1-3-2)
DEFENCE
Although he couldn’t keep a clean sheet, Caballero looked comfortable enough and is likely to retain his starting spot. Fernandinho might be given another go at right-back, giving him a chance to get accustomed to his new position. John Stones looks like he will get a game but Pep might spring a surprise in the other slot and might give Kompany a starting spot. Kolarov might get a start at left-back.
MIDFIELD
Yaya Toure is likely to carry on as the sole holding midfielder and he will look to continue his performances which have seen him fast re-emerge as one of the more important players in the team. The 3 advanced midfielders are likely to be Silva, De Bruyne and Sterling. Silva has been majestic lately and has been pulling the strings from slightly deeper areas. De Bruyne will roam around the final third while Sterling will be providing the width.
ATTACK
Up front, Guardiola can well spring a major surprise and look to try out a new partnership. There is a possibility that the Catalan might employ both Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero up top and the fans will eagerly hope that they click as a pair.
