Manchester City vs Bournemouth prediction 23.08.2026 | Premier League

Manchester City are facing a massive change following Pep Guardiola's departure after a decade-long tenure. Last season, under Pep, the Citizens finished second, seven points behind Arsenal. Still, they won the FA Cup and EFL Cup, and we cannot really say the season was a disappointment. 

However, with Guardiola leaving, some key players from previous years, like Rodri and Bernardo Silva, along with a few other rotation pieces, also left the squad. Yes, they added Elliot Anderson for 135 million euros, but it remains to be seen whether he is up to the task. But besides Anderson's arrival, we cannot really say we were impressed by their additions. 

To be fair, their squad, on paper, still looks impressive and is undoubtedly a title challenger. Still, their performance in the Community Shield has been worrisome, as they were completely outplayed. After the game, coach Marseca hinted that they need more players, and we believe they will make some big moves by the end of the transfer window. 

For the upcoming game, we shouldn't expect Omar Marmoush and Savinho, as they are heavily linked to Tottenham and will most likely not be in the squad. Meanwhile, Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes are both questionable due to minor injuries. But according to credible sources, they should be ready. 

Bournemouth had an impressive season last year, finishing 6th and securing European qualification. They gradually improved under coach Iraola since their arrival in the top flight, and now, with Iraola's departure to Liverpool, there is a massive question: can they sustain that level? Many football pundits expect a slight regression due to the coaching change and the need to balance domestic competition and the Europa League. 

Over the summer, the Cherries did not make massive moves. By far the biggest change from last season was the departure of their best central defender, Marcos Senesi, who joined Tottenham. The club added Antonio Silva as a replacement, and we expect him in the starting lineup in the opening game. 

For the first game of the season, the Cherries could miss up to 10 players due to injuries or fitness issues. Julian Araujo, Veljko Milosavljevic, Eli Kroupi, and Amine Adli are officially out with injuries, while Ryan Christie is out with a suspension. Meanwhile, David Brooks, Tyler Adams, Julio Soler, Alvaro Rodriguez, and Juanlu Sanchez are listed as questionable due to minor injuries.