Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

They have trekked 250 miles to get here from the south coast so you might think Bournemouth fans will be pleased to see the Etihad today, even if the dank Manchester weather is not exactly welcoming?

Er, probably not actually, based on past visits anyway. The Cherries have never beaten the Blues in a competitive match and, since being promoted to the Premier League in 2015, they have been here three times and lost three times, shipping at least four goals on each occasion and conceding a total of 13. Ouch.

Is there any more bad news? Yes. City are averaging 3.86 goals a game at home in the league this season so are in the form to maintain that kind of average. You would be a brave man to back Bournemouth to leave with a clean sheet.

Still, there's a nice tree outside the ground if the visitors need some Christmas cheer.

Image source, BBC Sport

Team news will drop very shortly...

Leicester have conceded a league-high share 65% of their Premier League goals in the first half of games this season (11/17), with five of those coming in the opening 15 minutes.

Image source, Getty Images/BBC Sport

Leicester City manager Claude Puel: "We need to start faster, to give a good tempo and, with the supporters, put the opponent under pressure.

"It's important to correct this to improve and to try to have better results at home. We showed all the quality, sometimes in the second half, away but we need now to perform more at home."

Watford head coach Javi Gracia: "They (Leicester) have good players. I like the way they are playing this season. It will be a very demanding game for us."

Football Focus chats to Fulham forward Andre Schurrle as he prepares to face former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

And there's another German he isn't looking forward to coming up against!

This one is for all the niche stat lovers out there...

Six of Burnley’s eight Premier League goals against Crystal Palace have come in the opening 20 minutes, including their fastest ever top-flight goal in November 2016 (Sam Vokes – one minute, 18 seconds).

Image source, Getty Images/BBC Sport

Steve Wyeth
BBC MOTD Commentator

For Leicester and Watford, a run of eight Premier League games in a month starts here, but do they stick or twist?

Leicester's longest unbeaten run in a year provides encouragement. However, 12 months ago that yielded 13 points from 15, whilst the recent drawing habit - three in the last four - means a more modest return.

Watford's best start to a top-flight campaign has been followed by two wins from the subsequent nine. Like Leicester, they've given themselves the platform to make a sustained impression on the top half.

Saturday might offer a clue as to whether that's the direction their respective seasons are heading in.

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez: "Always it's important to win games in a row.

"It's not good to talk too much about it before the game, but afterwards hopefully we can discuss another win.

"The confidence is higher so you want to play more games, but you have a lot of games in December. December is a big test for us. It will be a difficult month, but I hope it will be a good one."

West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini: "Momentum is always important and Newcastle have trust in this moment because they are winning.

"I don't think it is a crucial match for both teams but it is an important match for both teams.

"We need to add points, they are at home and in a good moment but, after this one, we need to play 24 games more."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Spain striker David Villa is to join Japanese top-flight club Vissel Kobe after leaving Major League Soccer side New York City FC.

Villa will link-up with former Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta and ex-Germany forward Lukas Podolski.

The 36-year-old scored 80 goals in 124 games for New York after becoming the club's first ever player when he signed from Atletico Madrid in 2014.

With Spain, he won the 2008 European Championship and the 2010 World Cup.

Read more on that here.

Image source, Getty Images

Palace fans can remain optimistic about their survival given their performances so far this season and they boosted hopes with a hard-fought draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend.

They came through a gruesome run against Chelsea, Spurs and United with just a point but that's more than expected.

A win today against relegation rivals Burnley, could see them move up to 15th place in the league table.

Burnley remain a shadow of the team which finished seventh last season and another disappointing defeat to Newcastle on Monday hasn't helped their case.

They sit one point above bottom-of-the-table Fulham, level on points with Palace, and are also in need of a win.

Games like these are the ones Burnley and Palace can't afford to lose.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe: "We know it will be hard and City are the side we've struggled the most against, but I see the game more as a positive challenge than a negative one.

"It isn't damage limitation for us, but it is an opportunity to create a historic moment for the football club and to do our best in the game.

"Our record doesn't sound great but I think that is for most teams going to Manchester City in recent seasons.

"But every time we have gone there we have really grown and learnt from the experiences, although they have been painful."

Image source, Getty Images

That looks like a factory Jacqui... McVitie's?

The Leicester players have just arrived at the King Power and Jamie Vardy has walked into the changing rooms with his headphones on and his eyes glued to an iPad.

Maybe he's doing some pre-match research on Watford's defence? But probably not.

Leicester remain unbeaten in five games but have drawn three of their last four and could do with picking up maximum points today.

They currently sit two points below Watford in 10th place which is a nice position to be in heading into December.

Watford have continued to exceed expectations and if they can finish the year in the top half of the table, that will be some achievement!

A win today would massively help that aim - moving them as high as sixth place, as least until later today.

Watford have gone three games without a win and suffered a heavy defeat to Liverpool last weekend so they should be hungry for victory today.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 live

12:00-15:00 - Build-up to today's games and the Euro 2020 qualifying draw, BBC Radio 5 live

15:00-17:00 - Manchester City v Bournemouth, Premier League Football, BBC Radio 5 live

14:55-17:00 - Walsall v Sunderland, FA Cup second round, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

18:00-20:00 - 606, BBC Radio 5 live

So you think you know all the football club badges? Well, now's your chance to prove it...

The FA Cup has reached the 2nd round and 40 teams from all corners of the country are set to battle it out for a place in the famous 3rd round draw and the chance to play a top Premier League club.

Play our badge mash-up quiz, and prove you are a football superfan!

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "When we are not able to win the games, people will say we cannot keep the standard but we have been at the same level for the last 15 months so I don't have any reason to think we will not be who we are.

"That doesn't mean win or lose but the way we approach the games, I don't see any signals to say we are not going to try and be who we are."

Image source, Getty Images

Clever.

Man City had to settle for a draw in Lyon earlier this week but booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

That means the Premier League will be their ultimate priority until at least February, which is bad news for everybody else.

The league leaders remain unbeaten but with Liverpool just two points behind.

Eddie Howe's Bournemouth side will always give you a run for your money but after suffering three defeats in a row, they need a result soon.

It is no mean feat but a draw would see them move level on points with Manchester United for a few hours and a shock victory could move them up into sixth place.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

As well as today's Premier League football, you can listen to live coverage of the FA Cup second round match between Walsall and Sunderland on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 14:55 GMT today.