Manchester City vs Bournemouth prediction: 4/1 bet builder tips and odds

MANCHESTER CITY and Bournemouth kick-start their 2026-27 Premier League campaigns at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, both under the guidance of new managers. Enzo Maresca must prove there’s life after Pep Guardiola and that last week’s chastening defeat to Arsenal was merely a teething problem, while Marco Rose must build on Andoni Iraola’s top-six finish. Manchester City vs Bournemouth bet builder tips Bet Builder Man City vs Bournemouth Sunday, 23 August 2026 • 14:00 BST • Premier League Erling Haaland — Player to Score 2+ Goals Yes — Both Teams to Score Best Odds BetMGM 11/2 Bet Here — £10 returns ≈ £65.00 Get £40 In Free Bets When You Bet £10 New customers: Deposit £10+ and place a sports bet within 7 days from registration. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets – 2 x Football Accas (4+) & 2 x Sports Multiples (2+), valid 7 days. Min odds apply. Excludes virtual sports, esports and non-UK/IE horse racing. Opt-in required. 18+. T&Cs apply. 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Manchester City vs Bournemouth predictions It’s no secret that Manchester City have enjoyed this fixture. The Cityzens have won all nine of their Premier League home games against Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 34-6. That said, this is a very different Manchester City in transition with a new manager at the helm and several stalwarts now departed, including Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones. Bournemouth have held on to the majority of the squad that qualified for Europe last season with further exciting additions, but they’ll need to re-write history having won their opening game in just two out of nine Premier League campaigns. Erling Haaland to score 2+ goals It may come as no surprise, but Erling Haaland enjoys the month of August. The Norwegian talisman has struck 22 goals in 14 Premier League appearances this month. He also netted three times against Bournemouth last season, including a brace in this exact fixture. He usually starts fast and has three braces in his last six competitive appearances. ➡️ Bet on Erling Haaland to score 2+ goals at 5/2 with Betfred Both teams to score Clean sheets haven’t been too forthcoming with Manchester City of late. The Citizens shipped three to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend and have conceded at least once in each of their last six, including pre-season. The Cherries have been rampant in their pre-season fixtures, scoring 22 goals in five games, including the 10-1 thrashing of Genoa. They also have Rose in the dugout, who ranked top of Germany’s Bundesliga for direct attacks and joint-top for direct attack goals. ➡️ Pick Both teams to score at 1/2 with BetMGM Over 3.5 goals Death, taxes and goals in this fixture. Manchester City vs Bournemouth at the Etihad rarely fails to deliver, with 43 goals scored in their last 10 meetings, an average of 4.3 goals per game. Over 3.5 goals has landed in eight of the last 10 in Manchester. Both Maresca’s and Rose’s sides like scoring but aren’t known for their defensive solidity. This game screams goals. ➡️ Tip Over 3.5 goals at 1/1 with Betway Manchester City vs Bournemouth preview Manchester City’s brand new era begins this weekend as they take to the field without Pep Guardiola in charge for the first time since August 2016. Enzo Maresca was the obvious successor, but he’s got some pretty big shoes to fill and things didn’t start well following their 3-0 defeat to champions and main title rivals Arsenal. It feels like an impossible task for the Italian to follow in Pep’s footsteps, especially after a summer of significant change. Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones have all left the club, along with the recent sales of Tijjani Reijnders, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji, while Savinho and Omar Marmoush are also set to depart for Tottenham, with Elliot Anderson the only senior player to sign, arriving from Nottingham Forest for £116million. The manager has changed, the players have changed and the style of football will change, but the squad remains one that should be challenging for major silverware. There is plenty to prove, though, and Bournemouth are far from ideal opponents. The Cherries are a fairly settled outfit, and although Iraola has left, Rose’s similar philosophy and style should ensure continuity at the Vitality. And that’s no bad thing given they lost none of their final 18 Premier League games of 2025-26, the longest unbeaten run in the division. But on paper, that record is under threat. Bournemouth boss Marco Rose will be just the fifth manager to see his first Premier League game come away to Manchester City at the Etihad, with none of the previous four making a winning start. Key stats for Manchester City vs Bournemouth Manchester City have won all nine of their Premier League home games against Bournemouth by an aggregate score of 34-6. Manchester City have won their opening game in 14 of the last 15 Premier League seasons. Bournemouth have won their opening game in just two out of nine Premier League campaigns. Including caretakers, each of the Citizens’ last four managers has won their first league game, with Mark Hughes in August 2008 the last to lose. Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo scored for Bournemouth in their opening game in the last two Premier League seasons. Manchester City vs Bournemouth betting odds Here are the latest odds provided by bet365, Betway and Coral. Manchester City vs Bournemouth predicted line-ups Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; O’Reilly, Gvardiol, Dias, Khusanov; Kovacic, Anderson; Semenyo, Foden, Cherki; Haaland. Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Truffert, Hill, Silva, Smith; Scott, Adams; Tavernier, Kluivert, Rayan; Evanilson. Verdict This looks a real treat for the neutral, with goals expected between two front-footed sides boasting plenty of attacking talent and several questions to answer under new leadership, with neither manager renowned for keeping clean sheets. The Citizens have history and perennial top scorer Erling Haaland on their side and could edge a goal-filled thriller at the Etihad. Read more of our 2026/27 football season tips and predictions Premier League winner odds 2026/27 Premier League top scorer odds 2026/27 Premier League relegation odds 2026/27 Champions League winner odds 2026/27 Championship promotion odds 2026/27 About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk Read our guide on responsible gambling practices. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. Most read in Betting