Manchester City

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Erling Haaland will be licking his lips at the prospect of linking up with Rayan Cherki in the future.

The Frenchman provided well-crafted assists for both of Haaland's goals against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Cherki scored himself against Wolves in the opening game, but has only recently returned to action following a six-week lay-off with a thigh injury.

"I know Erling, he knows me. When I play with him and he with me, it's very simple," said Cherki, who joined in the summer from Lyon. "My job is give the ball to Erling and he scores."

Their partnership against Bournemouth was an exciting sign of things to come for City's attack as opposition managers will now have to deal with Cherki's quality as well as trying to work out how to shackle Haaland.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said it was "almost impossible" to prepare against Haaland, adding: "He is amazing. When you press higher and concede the press at the back, he is super fast."

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "You run out of superlatives. People may criticise [Erling Haaland], saying that he doesn't involve himself in play enough.

"But he scores a ridiculous amount of goals and will go on to break all kinds of records - if he stays in the Premier League."

Ex-City goalkeeper Shay Given added: "Haaland has got aspirations of being the best striker in Premier League history, the best player in Norwegian history, and probably the best player in the world.

"The stuff he does off the pitch, he is the ultimate professional."

Read the full piece here

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Man City and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Man City fans

Gene: A much better performance against a much better team with crisp, smart passing and better attacking. Rayan Cherki is getting more confident and showing creativity while Matheus Nunes has improved quite a lot as a right-back. They need to continue to build upon the teamwork and will gel as time goes on as the competition gets harder.

Anton: City will beat any team that come to play and not defend with a low block. My only gripe is poor set-pieces. They need a better set-piece coach.

Charlie: I thought the first-half performance by City was the best I've seen from them in 18 months.

Harry: There's nothing I can say about Erling Haaland that hasn't already been said. He makes me incredibly proud to be a Man City supporter and we have to cherish everything he does for us. Cherki is an absolute bargain and so unselfish - he's going to be a major asset. Besides the corner, Gianluigi Donnarumma was a stalwart in goal. So many positives but credit to Bournemouth, who were absolutely fearless at the Etihad and could have had more in the first half. Bring on Liverpool.

Bournemouth fans

Peter: Would have expected Veljko Milosavljevic to have started against Haaland as Bafode Diakite has already showed he struggles against big forwards like Jean-Philippe Mateta. Great to see Tyler Adams finally on the scoresheet, but Bournemouth will play better against Aston Villa next week. Now we have players back and the motivation to play better than we did against City, which was a tad disappointing. That shows how far this team has come.

M: It was OK. Some players were off it. We looked very open in defence and not much happened in attack. Antoine Semenyo had moments but was quiet. We need to be more aggressive going forward against teams like City.

Bob: Poor defensive tactics, why was Haaland given so much room?

Tim: Bournemouth's high line let Haaland in twice and injured Alex Jimenez was out of position for the third. However, there is so much to admire about Bournemouth. Upwards and onwards.

Pundits Michael Carrick and Rob Green join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham 3-1 Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Switzerland centre-back Manuel Akanji, 30, says it will be up to Inter Milan whether they want to turn his loan move from Manchester City into a permanent switch, but the Serie A club "seem happy" with him so far. (Football Italia), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola's men were edged out at Aston Villa for a third league loss of the campaign, raising concern over how much that setback would impact them.

But Manchester City have responded with back-to-back wins by despatching Swansea in the Carabao Cup and collecting three crucial points against a Bournemouth side that has impressed so far this season.

The hosts produced a stylish display to maintain their perfect home record against their opponents in the Premier League, now winning all nine contests between the two sides.

Talismanic Erling Haaland was of course integral to their fortunes.

His double took his tally to 13 in the league this season, with both finishes never in doubt after being sent clear by classy assists from the excellent Rayan Cherki.

It meant Haaland became only the third player to score two or more goals in four consecutive Premier League home appearances - matching the feats of Robbie Fowler and Luis Suarez.

The 25-year-old will be disappointed not to have a first match ball this term though, after being unable to convert further opportunities before being replaced by Omar Marmoush with eight minutes left.

Nico O'Reilly, constantly supporting the attack with rampaging runs from the back, confirmed the victory when he drilled home Phil Foden's pass on the Englishman's 200th league appearance for the club.

Rodri replaced Foden, on his return to action for the first time in a month following a hamstring injury, while fellow substitute Tijjani Reijnders stung the palms of Djordje Petrovic with another attempt.

Arsenal look the team to beat this season after their storming start, but City have slowly got back to the form that will make them title challengers once again.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was a good performance from City today.

"Bournemouth showed us what they're about in the first half, but they didn't reach those levels again in the second.

"City controlled the game in the second half. Their goal wasn't under threat. You didn't see [Gianluigi] Donnarumma flying about. There were no clear cut chances for Bournemouth.

"The signs are positive for City.

"But as we keep repeating - it's about doing it on a regular basis. City have done it consistently in previous years - but can they do it with this set of players?"

Ex-City goalkeeper Shay Given on Sky Sports: "Erling Haaland has got aspirations of being the best striker in Premier League history, the best player in Norwegian history, and probably the best player in the world. The stuff he does off the pitch, he is the ultimate professional."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the win: "Bournemouth are one of the most demanding teams that we have faced. We found our rhythm and we were the better team in many aspects.

"Bournemouth played an outstanding game. Last season, they destroyed us. You have to match their duels otherwise you only have to look at what happened in the second half. We lost three or four balls and they can kill you.

"They are incredible. It is no surprise for me what they did last season. They lost three of their four defenders and they are still up there."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the manager added: "There isn't a manager, a team or a player that doesn't know how good Bournemouth are. To play for 95 minutes with that rhythm, it is outstanding. They are an outstanding team. We know how difficult they are, but we managed well. The quality of the players in the middle for us made the difference."

On goalscorer Erling Haaland: "We are so blessed and lucky to have, first of all, an incredible person because he is the sweetest and kindest person. He will keep improving. And, after that, as a player his numbers are just outstanding."

Manchester City striker Haaland also spoke to Sky Sports about the overall performance: "It is an important win. It is good to bounce back after losing a bad away game [against Aston Villa]. It was nice.

"I tried to contribute for the team by doing my job. It is good to win, now we have two more important games to come so we have to keep focusing.

"I didn't score in our last game and I always try to help the team to win. That's my goal and whether that's by scoring or winning duels, it doesn't matter. I want to help the team become better, that is my job."

On being taken off while on a hat-trick: "There were were probably a few Fantasy managers out there who were not so happy!"

Did you know?

• Manchester City's Erling Haaland became the third player ever to score two or more goals in four or more consecutive Premier League home appearances, after Robbie Fowler (four goals across 1995-96) and Luis Suarez (five goals in 2013).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester City's performance

What did you make of Bournemouth's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola returns to a full strength side following his side's Carabao Cup win at Swansea City during the week.

There are eight changes in all with Phil Foden making his 200th league appearance for City. He will play alongside Frenchman Rayan Cherki.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is back in goal with captain Bernardo Silva also starting.

Tijjani Reijnders, a firm starter all season, is on the bench alongside the likes of John Stones, Omar Marmoush and the returning Rodri, who has not played since suffering a hamstring injury at Brentford a month ago.

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Silva, Cherki, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Bournemouth make two changes after beating Nottingham Forest last time out.

Bafode Diakite and David Brooks come in to the side, with Veljko Milosavljevic and Justin Kluivert dropping to the bench.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert, Scott, Adams, Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo, Kroupi

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• West Ham v Newcastle (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Bournemouth (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times GMT

Follow West Ham v Newcastle here

And go here for Man City v Bournemouth

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Newcastle" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Bournemouth".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Manchester City have won all eight of their home Premier League games against Bournemouth since 2015, scoring 31 goals and conceding five, but I still don't think anyone will be overly confident they will beat the Cherries this time.

City have been so reliant on their big number nine and their big goalkeeper this season, and that has to change. They need other players to step up.

It also feels like Pep Guardiola is making a mistake in choosing to ignore the rise in the importance of set-pieces and City are the only Premier League team to not score from one this season.

He says he wants to focus on creating more chances in open play, but it is proven that corners and throw-ins work so my advice to Guardiola is that it might be time for him to get some big players in and launch it!

I'm tempted to go for Bournemouth to get at least a draw here, because they will cut through City and get some chances, but instead I'm going to be brave and back Erling Haaland and City - mainly because they are at home but also because they have Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.

Bournemouth will score, but City will win. I've got Cherries keeper Djordje Petrovic in my Fantasy team at the moment, so I need to move him out.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth's stunning start to the season will breed confidence that they can secure a first-ever away win against a Manchester City side yet to hit top form. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes ahead of Sunday's clash.

Cherries seeking further success against Man City

Bournemouth had failed to register a single victory in any of their previous 21 matches against Manchester City before recording a famous 2-1 win at the Vitality Stadium last December.

Now sitting in the lofty heights of second, and on an eight-game unbeaten run that dates back to the opening weekend of the season, Andoni Iraola's side have arguably their best-ever chance of picking-up a maiden victory away at City.

In top-flight history, only Manchester United (16 wins from 16 versus Luton) and City themselves (nine from nine against Swansea) have a better 100% home win rate against an opponent than the eight wins from eight City have enjoyed against Bournemouth.

The Cherries' superb start to the season of 18 points from nine games is their best-ever in the top flight, surpassing the 17 they won under Eddie Howe in 2018-19.

It is remarkable to think that Iraola failed to win any of his first nine league games in charge of Bournemouth and his job was called into question. He has since led the club to record points tallies in both his seasons in charge and is firmly on course to do the same again, with a first-ever European qualification a tantalising prospect.

Much has rightly been made of their incredible recruitment team and it looks like they have struck gold again with Eli Junior Kroupi. The 19 year-old Frenchman is aiming to become only the fourth teenager to score in four or more consecutive Premier League games after Robbie Fowler, Nicolas Anelka and Francis Jeffers.

City looking to get more players scoring

City's defeat to Bournemouth last season not only ended their 32-match unbeaten top-flight run, but was the first of a four-match losing streak in the league from which the then-champions never really recovered.

After a shaky start to this campaign, Pep Guardiola's side had strung together a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions despite being a long way from their best. However, Aston Villa were quick to expose some familiar failings as they recorded a 1-0 win last Sunday.

That defeat marked the first time since 2013-14 that City have lost three of their opening nine games to a campaign. However, City fans can at least take solace from the fact they actually went on to win the league that season.

Questions remain over who is going to step up and score if Erling Haaland fails to find the target. His run of scoring in 12 games for club and country was halted by the Villans with his goal-shy team-mates again failing to find the net. Their next top scorer in the league is own goals with two, with only Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United having had fewer goalscorers than City's five.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth at Etihad stadium (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Guardiola confirmed Erling Haaland is available for Sunday and midfielder Rodri "will be ready to help" but he was unsure if he will be able to play from the start.

• On how desperate he is to play and having to manage him: "Rodri and 18 more players too. Everybody is desperate to play. He has been out a few times and we all know how important he is for us."

• With Phil Foden having the possibility to reach 200 Premier League games this weekend, Guardiola said it is an "honour" to see him play that many matches, adding: "And the impact he has made for us and the club of his heart. It is a good milestone, especially for his age."

Hear more from Guardiola on Foden's milestone on BBC Sounds

• On whether he would like to get Foden and Rayan Cherki playing together: "It's a real option to play them together, like Erling and Marmoush. I will not be the one to say I don't like these kind of players, but you have to realise what it is like to play in the Premier League with the physicality. We need to get the balance. We saw it against Aston Villa, we were not solid enough to sustain it. They will learn."

• On how much scoring in midweek will help forward Omar Marmoush: "People who play up front score goals and it gives them a lot of confidence. Hopefully he can continue to grow with his goals and games and everything."

• Asked to assess Oscar Bobb's campaign so far, the City boss said: "He was out all of last season with a tough injury. He started really well playing in the first two or three games but after he hasn't played because I've rotated the team. He has to believe. The moment he believes in himself and how good he is, he will make the next step in his career as a football player."

• Guardiola said they are "used to" having less time to prepare for matches than their opponent and added that the journalists should "ask Iraola [if it is an advantage]".

• On City's squad depth this season: "It's the same squad as last season. Right now, we just have less players injured. The squad is similar to last season."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

This - it seems - is the season of the set piece.

The Premier League debates are more about dead balls than ever before, with some sides enjoying immense success from corner kicks, throw ins or well-worked free-kicks.

What fine timing then for BBC Sport to launch a column with former manager Tony Pulis, a man who seemed to finely extract the fine margins from the game.

You can take in Tony's column on set pieces here

Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal are in the running to sign 22-year-old Cameroon and Levante forward Karl Etta Eyong, who wants to resolve his future in January, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also interested. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Manchester City's win against Swansea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

Abbo: City did what they had to do, very professional performance. For me, Rayan Cherki deserved man of the match for his goal.

Tom: Abdukodir Khusanov still prone to making unforced mistakes. Playing against a better team, we will be punished.

Abdul: Rayan Cherki deserves to play every single minute from now on. Great piece of business from City's new man, Viana.

Gene: Wow, that was a tough one to watch. It was disjointed with too many errant passes and an unwillingness to shoot when the opportunity was available. Cherki played well and it was nice to see players returning. It only gets more difficult from this point forward.

Image source, Rex Features

Pep Guardiola said he did not expect anything other than a fierce challenge at Swansea City after Manchester City had to come from behind to knock the Championship club out of the Carabao Cup.

Manchester City will host Brentford in the quarter-finals having come through what threatened to be a difficult night at Swansea on Wednesday.

Alan Sheehan's Swansea side were excellent in the opening half-hour, playing with energy and intensity and going in front thanks to a sparkling Goncalo Franco goal.

But Jeremy Doku's deflected shot brought Manchester City level before the break and the Premier League heavyweights controlled the second period, with late goals from Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki sending them into the last eight.

Guardiola acknowledged that Swansea had made life hard for his team, saying: "It could not be otherwise.

"This competition, away against Swansea, a team historically who always played really, really good. They started fantastic and they got the goal.

"But after that, 20-25 minutes, we got the game and the second half was brilliant to attack in most spaces. We didn't go to transition and everywhere the commitment [was there]."