City make four changes from the side that beat West Ham in midweek.

Raheem Sterling, Bernardo and Kyle Walker all step up from the bench for today’s clash with Bournemouth while John Stones returns after a three-match absence.

Leroy Sane, Riyad Mahrez, Danilo and Vincent Kompany make way while Gabriel Jesus returns as a sub.

READ: Bournemouth v City: Talking Points

LIVE: Matchday Centre

Starting XI:

Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Gundogan, De Bruyne, D Silva (c), Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero

Subs: Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Foden, Jesus, Sane, Mahrez

KDB : Will the Belgian find the net at The Vitality?
KDB : Will the Belgian find the net at The Vitality?

City need to crank up pressure

The title race is such that there feels as though there is no room for slip-ups.

Neither City or Liverpool can afford to give the other an advantage as we go into the last 10 games of the campaign.

For the Blues, still a point behind, every opportunity presented to overhaul Liverpool – even for 24 hours – must be taken.

Liverpool take on Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow afternoon and while the Reds will start as favourites, the overused cliché about the form book going out of the window on derby day has a basis in fact.

But Pep Guardiola and his side won’t be taking anything for granted at the Vitality – this is a game against a good footballing side on their own patch – and it is likely to be a tough 90 minutes.

Stats and facts

Ilkay Gundogan makes his 100th appearance for the Blues this afternoon (all comps) – he’s scored 16 goals to date.

CENTURION : Ilkay
CENTURION : Ilkay

City have never lost to Bournemouth in 13 meetings between the clubs and have won all seven Premier League fixtures by an aggregate of 24-3.

The Cherries have scored just one goal in six home games against the Blues.

Only three of Sergio’s 18 Premier League goals this season have come away from home.

Sterling has scored 10 goals in seven career appearances against Bournemouth.

Last time at The Vitality...