Bournemouth

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

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

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

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is Athletic Club's preferred option to become their manager if Ernesto Valverde does not renew his contract with them beyond next summer. (La Razon - in Spanish), external

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Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the defeat at Etihad Stadium: "If you are going to get something from these kind of games, you need something special.

"In the first half, we pressed like we always do. They found our backs with the first two goals very well. You have to accept that sometimes when you play like this, they will punish us. I'm pleased with the performance overall.

"[Erling] Haaland is that good, he is in great form and it is very difficult to defend against him. We didn't want to change the way we were playing. He punished us two times because the timing wasn't there from our centre-backs.

"We started quite well. We fought and got to 1-1 but then came a lovely moment from them. In the second half, we were probably controlling more of the game, we were playing well and had two chances.

"Now we have another difficult game up next. The Premier League is very demanding and everything is super tight."

Bournemouth winger David Brooks also spoke to Sky Sports about the performance: "It was always going to be a tough game against Manchester City. It has probably been the hardest week to prepare for. We knew we had to come here and be the best version of ourselves, but a few minor details cost us.

"We looked to press but Manchester City are extremely comfortable on the ball. In the first half, we created a lot of opportunities for ourselves through the press but the big man up top for them - Erling Haaland - is always going to be a threat. It's almost impossible to prepare to face him. He is 6ft 5in, he is strong and he is a massive threat when the ball is falling to him. He took his chances well.

"The game got away from us in the end. The way we started shows where we are as a team and squad, there is no fear."

Did you know?

• Bournemouth have only won two of their past 11 Premier League away games (D5 L4), conceding two or more goals in eight of those matches.

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth sold a number of their key players this summer, but such has been their togetherness this term that this was only their second defeat after losing to defending champions Liverpool on the opening day.

If young forward Eli Kroupi had just held his run to meet David Brooks' cross and stay onside in the first minute, they might have just got something from the game.

But they were eventually overpowered by a Manchester City side as strong as they had been in this campaign, especially going forward.

The trio of Antoine Semenyo, Marcos Senesi and Marcus Tavernier all made their 100th appearances for the club, but could not prevent their side's eight-game unbeaten run coming to an end.

Bournemouth's dismal record against City has now seen them lose 16 of their 17 meetings, their only joy coming in a home victory last season.

But Andoni Iraola's men have enjoyed their best start to a top-flight campaign - and their enterprising play, determined approach and lack of fear should offer hope for the remainder.

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

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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.

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

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola confirmed they are "in a good spot injury-wise" with forward Evanilson potentially being back in contention having "been training most of the week as normal with the rest of the team".

• He added: "Difficult for me to make decisions because I have to leave some players out of the squad. But it is good and a lovely place to be in that sense. We can approach the game in different ways."

• On how he can keep players happy: "To keep everyone happy is impossible. Everyone has to complain and natural it is like this and should be like this. Have to accept these things. Have to put the team first. What gives us the best chance to get something from the game, not just starting XI, but also from the bench."

• Iraola revealed he had lunch and chatted "about lots of different things" with owner Bill Foley this week, but they did not have a meeting about his contract and added: "We talk every day. We know each other, we will have time to talk [about contract] whenever we decide."

• On their start to the season and eight-game unbeaten run: "We are being competitive. We are not just winning easy games. All games we have played have been quite a level. We are being effective, efficient. Now, the challenge is bigger [against City], facing one of most difficult games you can in world football. We have to raise our level to have chance to take anything."

• The Cherries boss said he does not "care" about Erling Haaland as he only wants "to win the game", adding: "It is not about Haaland not scoring. If he scores two and we score three then I take it. He is their main goalscorer and in great form. It will be very difficult to stop him because he is scoring most games but a challenge we have to accept as defenders, as a group collectively."

• On if this match is a real test of where they are: "No, I want City to win every game, Liverpool to win every game, Arsenal to win every game. They are not our rivals. When they face other teams, I don't want them to lose any points. I want them to win every game because at end of the season we know we won't be there with those teams, we will be in our own fight."

Catch up on 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

Chelsea are planning to replace manager Enzo Maresca with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer news and rumours? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

In any walk of life, it never hurts to put on a good show when the big boss is in town.

Bournemouth have made a habit of winning when owner Bill Foley has flown in from America, ever since his first visit three years ago.

On 8 October 2022, Foley was in the stands as prospective new owner as the Cherries came from behind to beat Leicester 2-1, two months before his takeover was approved.

Fast-forward three years, and Foley was at Vitality Stadium on Sunday as Bournemouth saw off Nottingham Forest to move up to second in the Premier League table.

Naturally, supporters have been awaiting any news of an extended contract for head coach Andoni Iraola, a topic reportedly high on Foley's agenda for this visit.

But the Spaniard, whose current deal runs out at the end of this season, has politely batted back continual questions about his contract status, preferring to focus on the achievements of his players.

He even pointed out that on previous occasions in Spain, he has waited until after the end of the season to re-sign, though that will do nothing to reassure some fans who fear losing their prize asset.

With Iraola's Cherries flying at an unprecedented height in the Premier League, Wednesday evening is the turn of Bournemouth's women to go under the spotlight as they take on Oxford United at Vitality Stadium in the FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division.

Unbeaten in league matches for more than two full seasons, the Cherries have taken to the third tier of the women's pyramid like a duck to water, winning five and drawing two of their first seven games.

On Sunday, while the men were beating Forest, the women were demolishing seventh-tier side Millbrook 11-0 in the first round of the FA Cup.

While Oxford will present a sterner test, more than 5,000 tickets have been sold as Helen Bleazard's side look to continue to (as owner Foley's motto would say), "always advance, never retreat".

On Monday, we took a look into Bournemouth's best start to a Premier League season and what this could mean for the rest of the campaign.

While history could not give us a clear answer as to where the Cherries might finish this term, we asked you for your predictions on how far up (or down) the table Andoni Iraola's side might end up.

The results as of 16:30 GMT on Tuesday showed there is plenty of positivity and optimism among supporters, with 34% eyeing a Europa League adventure, 15% thinking one better with a top-four spot and nearly a fifth (18%) going even further and suggesting becoming Premier League champions is a possibility.

A fair amount of fans tempered their expectations, with 32% feeling a top-half finish is most likely, however, so few expect anything less than that that a result of 0% registered for both a bottom-half finish and relegation.

You can add your choice here

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth carry on charging up the Premier League table and despite the talk around the summer's outgoings, it's the depth within the squad that's now starting to catch the eye.

Plenty has been said about Bournemouth's departures, having lost four of their main back five in the summer. The one man who stayed at the club was unsurprisingly club captain and stalwart Adam Smith, but he himself has been sidelined through injury since the end of August.

This particular quandary has meant the Cherries have utilised many different players in the right-back position, and it's a battle that many are relishing.

When Smith was out injured last campaign, it was midfield maestro Lewis Cook who stepped into the role in impressive fashion. However, Cook has also been sidelined this time around, so it has given opportunities for many less-utilised players within the squad to fight it out.

With Max Aarons out on loan at Rangers, it was deemed that Mexico international Julian Araujo would take the spot. Sadly for Julian, it hasn't been plain sailing so in stepped the normally natural centre-back James Hill, who took it upon himself to put in some assured performances within that role.

The club still decided to add reinforcements at full-back and it was the turn of Alex Jimenez to take on responsibility. He has taken to the side (and league) with ease, with many Cherries fans seeing him as potentially the long-term Smith replacement.

Whatever your preference, Bournemouth are showing they have options, flexibility and versatility all over the pitch.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says "it will be so difficult" for Bournemouth to keep hold of Andoni Iraola as he continues to prove his managerial capabilities.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "He is in his last year of his contract and Bournemouth want to hang on to him, but his stock is growing so much so it will be really difficult to hang on to him.

"With respect, he will be ambitious, so when bigger opportunities come along he will have to think about when the right time is to move."

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Bournemouth forward Enes Unal, who is making strides in his recovery from a second anterior cruciate ligament injury, says the timing of his setback was a "disaster".

Unal suffered the injury in January after fellow striker Evanilson had sustained a broken foot.

"It was the day after I heard the news about Evan so it was sad, it was my moment to step up and help the team and carry that weight. It was a disaster I would say and it was the second time it happened to me," Unal told BBC Radio Solent.

"It was not easy emotionally, you start questioning a lot of things but I started working on things also, mentally, keeping grateful for what I have. I have a beautiful family and I've achieved great things in my career. I've played 10 years without any serious injuries and missed almost no games and hopefully this is the last and I've just got to get over these things."

The 28-year-old played 45 minutes for the club's development squad last week and said he has "no limitations" as he looks ahead to his first-team return.

"It feels great, especially emotionally," he said. "It's been nine or 10 months since I played a football game in any kind of level. So it just feels good, physically and emotionally.

"It's been challenging, anybody who's had knee issues or knee injuries would know that it's not the easiest thing and in my case it's been repetitive, a second ACL to the same knee. You can see the scars already. With these kind of injuries you never know the timeline or what's going to happen. I wasn't expecting to play at this moment because I had some complications but this is how it works.

"I kept believing and working and the people around the club were supporting me so I'm really happy. After all of these things happened I am living more day-by-day, but I don't have any limitations.

"So I will say after this moment, anything can happen and if the body feels good and the knee is good and decisions are made in that order, it could be sooner or later."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds