Premier League: AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City 1-4 Report

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City recorded a 4-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Records continued to fall at the feet of Erling Braut Haaland as Manchester City won again in the Premier League with a 4-1 thrashing of an energetic Bournemouth side at Vitality Stadium.

The Norwegian powerhouse became City’s top goalscorer in a single Premier League campaign with a goal of 27 on the south coast, complementing the efforts of Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden and a Chris Mepham own goal.

The Cherries would get some late solace through Jefferson Lerma, which is nothing short of what his courageous performance deserved, but the fiery giant Pep Guardiola couldn’t be knocked down.

Having seen City take a five-point lead at the top by beating Leicester City, Man City needed no further impetus to start winning again at the Vitality Stadium, taking just 15 minutes to break the deadlock.

After a strong challenge from Rico Lewis to win back the ball, City moved upfield and Ilkay Gundogan sent a cross to Foden, whose advance was thwarted by Neto’s outstretched leg.

However, a blocked shot from Haaland was well received by Álvarez, who was in the right place at the right time to score, and the goal was confirmed after a short VAR review.

However, the Cherries were not afraid to attack Man City when the opportunity presented itself, but the clinical champions made two on 29 minutes through Haaland.

Again Gundogan was the architect, sending a cross from the left that Foden pushed through for Haaland, who duly converted for his 27th top goal of the season.

Haaland’s goal saw him break Sergio Aguero’s 2014-15 record for most goals for City in a single Premier League season, but Bournemouth didn’t throw in the towel and Adam Smith fired a lightning bolt on target in minute 37, which was blocked by Ruben Dias.

Bournemouth’s value would still prove useless, however, and Foden made the visitors’ third on 44 minutes, taking advantage of a careless pass from Philip Billing and firing from 12 yards out.

Just six minutes into the second half, City got their fourth, as City’s sweeping move to the right ended with Álvarez kicking the ball in from the chest and sending a half-volley towards goal, which only helped Chris Mepham en route to the back of the target. the target. network.

There would be few heart-in-the-mouth moments for City right off the bat, but some may have sparked jitters after a massive shouting in the Ederson box in the 66th minute, where Kalvin Phillips finally blocked an effort from Dominic Solanke. .

Gary O’Neil’s side certainly deserved a goal for their effort, swiping a clean sheet for City in the 83rd minute, when Dias’ poor clearance of a Jordan Zemura cross fell kindly to Lerma for a touch-and-go. go to take. a volley to the roof of the field. net.

Second-placed City have now narrowed the gap to leaders Arsenal, who still have a game to spare, to two points, and Guardiola’s side now prepare for the FA Cup fifth round with Bristol City.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth remain 19th in the table after dropping below the dotted line on Saturday, and their next game is a challenging trip to Arsenal next Saturday.

Lineups:

AFC Bournemouth: 

Neto, Smith (Fredericks, 59), Mepham, Stephens, Senesi, Zemura, Lerma, Billing (Rothwell, 59), Ouattara, Traorè (Anthony, 76), Solanke

Unused subs: Christie, Stacey, Moore, Semenyo, Travers, Randolph

Manchester City: 

Ederson, Akanji, Aké (Walker, 80), Dias, Gündoğan (Gomez, 55), Lewis, Rodri (Phillips, 55), Foden, Grealish (Mahrez, 72), Haaland (Perrone,72), Álvarez

Unused subs: De Bruyne, Silva, Ortega, Carson

Scorers:

Bookings: 

Man Of  the Match : Erling Haaland