The wind knocked out of Bournemouth as Eddie Howe discusses tactics with his assistants. But they have won a corner, which they play short and win another. 

Dion Dublin
Former Aston Villa striker on Final Score

"I wouldn't mind 20 of those a season! Adam Federici got to the cross first but he dropped the ball and it's a tap in for Wilfried Bony. Chocolate wrists. 

"That's exactly what Bony needed to get back in among the goals. City will be score at least four today."

Not the start that Adam Federici would have wanted by any means. Remember that he only came into the side after Artur Boruc was injured in the warm-up. And let's not talk about last year's FA Cup semi-final!

Bournemouth might have a case there. Raheem Sterling looked a touch offside when Wilfried Bony poked it to him. There was a Cherries defender further forward, but he looked off the pitch. 

Bournemouth work it nicely towards the City goal and once Matt Ritchie's shot is blocked it finds its way to Dan Gosling, who falls under a challenge from Nicolas Otamendi but referee Mike Dean is not interested. City under the cosh there. 

Little bit dicey from Eliaquim Mangala, who receives the ball from Joe Hart but squeezes between two Bournemouth attackers.

Plenty of noise inside the Etihad as Raheem Sterling has a couple of early touches but makes no headway into the Bournemouth penalty area.

Good possession from the visitors to start with. Kevin De Bruyne starts on the left of a three behind Wilfried Bony. 

Bournemouth get us under way. 

The teams are out and everyone conducts a minute's applause for the sad passing of former City boss Howard Kendall. 

There's plenty of Bournemouth fans with their phones out taking pictures at the Etihad and no wonder. Last time these two played each other it was in the third tier, at Dean Court in 1999. It was a goalless draw but City had two players sent off including Terry Horlock, who received a second yellow card for "aggressive walking", external

A late and unexpected change for Bournemouth as Artur Boruc injures himself in the warm-up. Adam Federici will make his Bournemouth league debut in his place, and the Cherries have no back-up keeper on the bench. 

You may have heard that former Everton boss Howard Kendall has sadly passed away and was of course, a Manchester City manager between 1989 and 1990. The club has already shown their respect by laying a wreath outside the stadium and will salute him with a minute's applause before the game. The players will also wear black armbands. 

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini was not best pleased that Vincent Kompany played for Belgium on Tuesday after being out for City with a calf complaint since 15 September. Asked if the defender would have played had he not featured against Israel, Pellegrini says: “We cannot know because he played for Belgium, we will see in the future when he returns to his normal position.”

Well, quite.

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini shuffles his pack after a string of injuries with Wilfried Bony in for Sergio Aguero and Jesus Navas in for David Silva. Yaya Toure is also back in the team, but captain Vincent Kompnay is on the bench, despite playing for Belgium on Tuesday.

Image source, Opta

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe makes two changes as Adam Smith and Euan O'Kane come in for Marc Pugh and Joshua King. The game comes too soon for midfielder Harry Arter, who is returning from injury and not in the squad.  

Image source, Opta

Given that Sergio Aguero scored five in 20 minutes against Newcastle two weeks ago, Bournemouth will probably be pleased he's not in the City team. But who is? Let's get a check... 

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on Football Focus

"It is scary, the amount of serious knee injuries that have been sustained in the season so far. Is it pitches, or the boots? Bournemouth's major injuries to their key players will make their Premier League survival battle twice as hard."

Alas, Bournemouth's pockets are not so deep, and after knee injuries this season to Callum Wilson and Max Gradel, plus Tommy Elphick's ankle problem, boss Eddie Howe says: "We will have to be at levels we haven't been at this season. If everyone is at their maximum, we are in with a chance of getting a result." 

Fresh from signing a new contract this week, Howe will be earning his corn if he can pull this one off. 

Image source, Pa