With their first piece of major silverware of the season already in the rearview mirror, Manchester City return their attention to defending their Premier League crown when they travel to Bournemouth this weekend.
Pep Guardiola's Sky Blues are looking to make it consecutive top-flight titles for the first time this season, but have been pushed into second in the race for glory by Liverpool.
They only trail the Reds by a point however and with a run of relatively soft domestic fixtures throughout March, they will be hopeful not to slip up in their quest to regain the summit.
Eddie Howe's Cherries gave Chelsea a pasting in early February but have since taken one point in their last four games, leaving them in the bottom half of the table - and though City will be under no illusions, they will hope such form bodes well for their chances at taking the three points.
| Game | Bournemouth vs Manchester City |
| Date | Saturday, March 2 |
| Time | 3:00pm GMT / 10:00am ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game will be broadcast on Telemundo Deportes En Vivo and streamed on NBC Sports Live.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Telemundo Deportes En Vivo | NBC Sports Live |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will not be broadcast or streamed as it falls within the blackout period. However, Goal will be providing minute-by-minute coverage on our live blog of the game.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| N/A | N/A |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Bournemouth players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Boruc, Begovic, Travers |
| Defenders | Ake, Daniels, Rico, Mings, Simpson, Clyne, Smith, Mepham |
| Midfielders | Surman, Pugh, Ibe, Stanislas, Fraser, Ofoborh, Gosling |
| Forwards | Mousset, King, Solanke, Wilson |
Confirmed Bournemouth starting XI : Boruc; Clyne, Mepham, Simpson, Daniels; Smith, Ake, Surman, Fraser; Brooks; King.
| Position | Man City players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ederson, Grimshaw, Muric |
| Defenders | Walker, Danilo, Laporte, Otamendi, Sandler, Zinchenko, Kompany, Mendy |
| Midfielders | Gundogan, De Bruyne, B. Silva, D. Silva, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Foden |
| Forwards | Aguero, Sterling, Sane |
Confirmed Man City starting XI : Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva; Bernardo, Aguero, Sterling.
Betting & Match Odds
Manchester City are the odds-on favourites to prevail, at 2/9 with bet365 . Bournemouth are priced at the more distant 12/1 while a draw is available at 13/2.
Match Preview
With a Carabao Cup under their belt for the second season running after a penalty shoot-out win against Chelsea, Manchester City can return their focus to the matter of making history as they seek to retain the Premier League title for the first time.
Pep Guardiola’s side edged out a defiant West Ham thanks to Sergio Aguero’s penalty in their previous game but still remain one point off the pace of league leaders Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp’s side determinedly holding on to the summit.
A thrashing of Watford by the Reds has given them some additional momentum, something City will look to replicate when they travel to Bournemouth this weekend.
Eddie Howe’s Cherries have been battered by major injuries this season and have slowly seen their once-bright European hopes dim after all their best efforts.
They are however more than capable of delivering big results, having beaten Chelsea 4-0 in early February – and with time running out for City to overhaul Liverpool, the pressure could get to the Sky Blues.
Raheem Sterling however says that City will not be suffocated, stating that he felt a greater burden when playing for the Reds four years ago when they fell agonisingly short.
“When I was there I did feel a lot more pressure than when I'm here,” he stated in the build-up.
“On a matchday with the fans, I think that would get to us a little bit. But, at the same time, we were in control.
“We had an opportunity to see it through and we didn't.”
Sterling will likely take those experiences forward into helping ensure that City don’t also falter in their ambitions, though with the season drawing towards its close, it remains an intriguing battle for whom will blink first.