Manchester City F.C.
·13 August 2022
Manchester City F.C.
·13 August 2022
Riyad Mahrez comes into the Manchester City starting XI as Pep Guardiola makes one change for our first home game of the season against Bournemouth.
The Algerian winger replaces Jack Grealish in the front three as Guardiola elects to stick with much of the team that won comfortably against West Ham United on the opening day.
That means Erling Haaland makes his home debut, retaining his place after his two-goal showing at the London Stadium.
Grealish is named on a bench that blends youth and experience, with Luke Mbete coming into the matchday squad after playing for the Elite Development Squad last weekend, but there is no place for the injured trio of Kalvin Phillips, Cole Palmer and Aymeric Laporte.
CITY: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Gundogan (C), De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Haaland.
BOURNEMOUTH: Travers, Smith, Mepam, Kelly (C), Stacey, Cook, Pearson, Lerma, Tavernier, Christie, Moore.
SUBS: Neto, Marcondes, Lowe, Stanislas, Dembele, Hill, Senesi, Billing, Anthony.
With Guardiola only opting for one change, we can expect City to line-up in a similar shape to last weekend.
The back four will be exactly the same, with Walker and Cancelo in their usual full-back roles either side of Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake.
Rodrigo will sit deepest in midfield, behind the Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne, who were both typically influential in City’s attack against West Ham.
They’ll be tasked with providing the supply line to Haaland, who leads the line up front, with Foden expected to switch to the left flank and Mahrez slotting in on the right.