Predicted Starting Line-Up: Bournemouth vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

An injury-stricken Manchester City side travel to the south coast on Saturday afternoon as they take on AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Following the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur during the week in the Carabao Cup fourth round, the Premier League champions look to bounce back immediately with Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side standing in the way.

In what was in many ways a “free hit” for Pep Guardiola and his squad, Wednesday night’s defeat proved disastrous for the blues, with three key players suffering from an injury of some sort on the evening.

Manuel Akanji – who was set to start the match – suffered a groin concern in the warm-up, while Josko Gvardiol and Savinho appeared to pick up respective issues during the contest, with the Brazilian in particular stretchered off with a suspected ankle injury.

Fortunately for the blues, it has been positive news with Savinho’s injury, with reports indicating that the problem is not as serious as first suspected, with the winger now a possibility to feature during Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Cherries.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed ahead of the clash at the Vitality Stadium that he has just 12 outfield players at his disposal, something he has “never seen before” during his nine years at the club.

With the congested fixture list and several players looking exhausted and/or injured, Saturday’s match will be one Pep Guardiola will pray he emerges unscathed from, with three points looking like a massive challenge against an in-form Bournemouth side.

With that being said, here is the Manchester City side we think will start the match on Saturday afternoon, as the Premier League champions look to get back to winning ways across all competitions this weekend!

Predicted XI

Despite his outfield antics due to boredom during matches, we still believe Ederson will be wearing his goalkeeper gloves for this one as he takes back his starting place following Stefan Ortega’s outing in midweek.

Rico Lewis “cannot be rested” at the moment, according to Pep Guardiola, despite the boss admitting he would like to give him some. Given the circumstances, it will be another start for the versatile defender this weekend.

An injury crisis with a fully-fit John Stones are perhaps the unprecedented circumstances Pep Guardiola was referring to following the match against Tottenham. The Englishman will likely keep his place by default, partnering Ruben Dias at the back.

Similarly, Nathan Ake remains fit and in contention, with the Dutchman likely to start this one as he faces his old club, with some element of uncertainty as to the issue sustained by Josko Gvardiol upon the full-time whistle against Tottenham.

Filling in for the long-term injured Ballon D’or winner Rodri (how good does that sound), Mateo Kovacic should start this one at the base of Manchester City’s three-man midfield.

Ilkay Gundogan would have never expected to have this much game-time upon returning to the club in the summer, but the injury crisis means the former Germany international will be relied on once more, partnering Phil Foden in the more advanced midfield roles.

Despite the possibility of Savinho being deemed fit after his ankle knock in North London on Wednesday night, we expect no risks to be taken when it comes to the 20-year-old, with Bernardo Silva slotting in instead.

Erling Haaland put his feet up for 90 minutes during the week, but that might be the last rest the big man gets for a while, with the crisis of injuries largely coming up front. The Norwegian will return to the starting line-up for this one.

Matheus Nunes is a man on fire at the minute, something which not many would have predicted even last month. The sporadic Portugal international will start once again, completing the line-up.

Starting XI: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ake; Kovacic, Gundogan, Foden; Bernardo, Haaland, Nunes.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Akanji, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol, Wright, O’Reilly, McAtee, Savinho, Paul Dickov.