Manchester City v Bournemouth: Premier League betting preview, free tip & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester City v Bournemouth in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Live on Sky One, Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 6pm Wednesday

Best bet

Manchester City to win & over 3.5 goals
2pts Evs Paddy Power

Team news

Manchester City
Sergio Aguero is still recovering from knee surgery and is a definite absentee. Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo are back in contention after missing the trip to Brighton with minor knocks.

Bournemouth
Defenders Charlie Daniels, Chris Mepham, Nathan Ake, Simon Francis and Adam Smith are all sidelined. A late call will be made on the fitness of Joshua King.

Match preview

Manchester City enjoyed one of the best results of their season on Monday when the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned their two-year ban from the Champions League and the Citizens can now focus on a hectic end to the campaign.

Last season's domestic treble-winners retained the EFL Cup in February, face Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, and have a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid after the away leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Wednesday's league clash with relegation-threatened Bournemouth is one of City's less significant fixtures but that does not mean the Cherries can expect an easy night at the Etihad.

Pep's men have returned from the coronavirus break in some style despite the absence of top scorer Sergio Aguero, who is recovering from knee surgery.

City have played four home league games since the restart, thrashing Arsenal 3-0, Burnley 5-0, champions Liverpool 4-0 and Newcastle 5-0.

They followed up the drubbing of the Magpies with another 5-0 win, away to Brighton, on Saturday and City's stats are impressive even when they have an off-day. They had 26 attempts on goal in their 1-0 defeat at Southampton – one more than Leicester managed when beating the Saints 9-0 earlier this season.

Guardiola has said he will make changes with the cup semi-final in mind but City's depth of talent is reflected by the fact that five players – Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez – have scored at least ten league goals this term.

Phil Foden has also been in irresistible form since the restart and Bournemouth, buoyed by their weekend comeback against Leicester, could be brought back down to earth.

The Cherries scored four times in 20 action-packed minutes in the second half against the Foxes but their most recent away game ended in a 5-2 defeat at Manchester United.

Another high-scoring loss looks likely for Eddie Howe's men, who have had some attacking success against the Premier League big guns this season.

They took the lead at Old Trafford, as they had against Liverpool at Anfield just before the coronavirus break, and they have also beaten United at home and taken four points off Chelsea.

City won August's reverse fixture 3-1 and they average just under three goals per game at home in the league this season, which is an ominous stat for a porous Bournemouth defence.

Key stat

Manchester City have won their four home games since the restart by an aggregate score of 17-0.

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