1 Sterling the cherry picker
We’ve mentioned it before, but it is a stat well worth mentioning.
Raheem Sterling has scored 10 goals in seven games against Bournemouth – far and away his best record against any team.
He also has two assists and scored the late, late winner at the Vitality Stadium last season that set the Blues on the way to an incredible start to what would become the Centurions campaign.
Add the fact that Sterling is playing the best football of his career, is currently in red-hot form and you have a recipe for more goals at the Vitality.
If Raheem starts on the bench tomorrow, you will probably hear the collective sigh of relief from the south coast all the way back to Manchester.
2 Know Howe
City may have a fine record against the Cherries, both home and away, but Pep Guardiola knows from earlier this season and last year’s trip to the Vitality that this is game is a potential banana skin.
Bournemouth play slick, attractive football, especially on their own patch and the tight confines of their stadium make this a tricky game.
If Callum Wilson returns, he and Josh King are a formidable pairing and will be a threat to the Blues’ back-line.
Just three defeats in 14 home games this campaign is evidence enough that City will be tested on the south coast.
3 Lucky charm Zinchenko
Oleksandr Zinchenko may have only played 31 games for City in his short career, but he’s already achieved a notable Premier League record.
The 1-0 win over West Ham in midweek was the Ukrainian’s 13th Premier League game for the Blues and he has been on the winning side on each occasion.
Nobody has started with more victories in Premier League history and he looks certain to start again against Bournemouth – if he does, he’ll be hoping to keep his 100% record going for as long as possible.
4 Solid Gold Ederson
With eight clean sheets in his last 12 games, Ederson is enjoying his best spell of the season.
The Brazilian sits second in the Premier League clean sheets list with 13 – three adrift of compatriot Alisson – but has been superb again all season.
When Pep Guardiola says his goalkeeper is key to everything City do, it’s easy to understand what he means.
Calmness personified, gifted and blessed with terrific reflexes, if he wore the No.10 jersey instead of No.1, nobody would be surprised!
5 Jesus to lead the attack?
Sergio Aguero has worked his socks off all season, but in the past few weeks has had to shoulder all the attacking duties while Gabriel Jesus recovered from a muscle injury.
It was clear in the latter stages of the games against Chelsea and West Ham that our record goal-scorer needs time to recharge his batteries somewhat after a gruelling schedule.
Jesus has been in sparkling form of late and, if he is selected, will look to pick up where he left off before his knock and add to the 16 goals he’s already bagged this campaign.
