40-1 underdogs Bournemouth face a daunting trip to champions Manchester City

Bournemouth made a winning return to the Premier League but their first away fixture is likely to be the most one-sided betting heat of the top-flight campaign as the relegation favourites travel to champions Manchester City.

The Citizens have won all ten of their previous Premier League meetings with the Cherries, and they are 1-12 with the visitors 40-1. Given those lop-sided match prices, here are some different angles for punters looking to back City:

Correct score

Ruthless City have won 34 of their 40 matches against bottom-half teams over the past two seasons. Last term they had three 5-0 wins at home and three of their last ten wins against Bournemouth have ended 4-0.

However, backers of City to win to nil at 1-2 should note that both teams scored in five of their last seven victories against the Cherries, three of which finished 2-1 – a 16-1 chance with bet365.

Handicap betting

The Citizens registered 3-0, 7-0, 2-0, 5-1 and 5-0 home wins against last season's bottom five and in 2019-20 – Bournemouth's most recent Premier League campaign – City beat each of the bottom six clubs at the Etihad by an aggregate score of 24-1.

Pep Guardiola's men covered a two-goal handicap in nine of their 16 home matches against teams outside the top four in 2021-22 and they are 8-11 to win by at least three goals.

Goalscorer markets

The good news for Bournemouth is that Raheem Sterling, who scored nine times in nine league appearances against them for City, has moved on.

The bad news is that Erling Haaland is up and running after scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at West Ham. The prolific Norwegian is 7-4 for another brace and just 6-1 for a hat-trick while marauding left-back Joao Cancelo, who may not have much defending to do, is an eye-catching 13-2 to score at any time.

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