Bournemouth-Manchester City Preview

Erling Haaland has "a lot of margin to improve", according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, ahead of his side's Premier League clash with Bournemouth this weekend.

The Norway star bagged a double on league debut last week against West Ham, and came close to a third on several occasions as he chased the perfect debut finish.

But the forward is far from the complete package for Guardiola, who has outlined where his young star can improve his game this coming term.

"Erling, like Julian (Alvarez) or (Phil) Foden or Cole Palmer, has a lot of margin to improve," the Spaniard stated. "He can be a better player, he can have the will to do it.

"He likes to play football, I like my job and we do our passion on the field but that's all. I never see a player with 21, 22 years, maybe Messi in that time he was already advanced, the rest is never finished business and always you can improve.

"We will try this season, next season for him to be a better player than when he arrived. This is what we are looking for in him but, like Phil for example, he is an exceptional player but has margin to be better."

Opposite number Scott Parker meanwhile says the Cherries will not rush Marcos Sensei into the fray after they added the Argentine to their ranks, stating: "I'm pleased we've managed to get Marcos in, a player we've had our eye on.

"He's come off a bit of a slow week, in terms of last week, because of the transfer and this week we've progressed him slowly. We don't want to rush him in but for sure, he's going to be involved.

"It's difficult when you come in from different countries, environments and cultures. I'm conscious of how players settle in, and sometimes it can be quite daunting."

Man City - Erling Haaland

The Norway international scored twice on his league debut for the Citizens at West Ham on the opening weekend. The only players to score in both of their first two Premier League appearances for the club are Robinho and Emmanuel Adebayor, putting the Leeds-born star in rare company.

Bournemouth - Kieffer Moore

The Welshamn scored on his Premier League debut for Bournemouth against Aston Villa and is looking to become the third to score in his first two appearances in the competition, after David Phillips and Harry Wilson, who did so for the Cherries in matches against Aston Villa and Manchester City in 2019.

- Manchester City have won all 10 of their Premier League matches against Bournemouth, the best 100%-winning ratio by a team against another in Premier League history.

- Bournemouth have only led for eight minutes in their 16 league meetings against Manchester City between 1987 and 2020, with Charlie Daniels giving them the lead in August 2017 before Gabriel Jesus equalised.

- Bournemouth are winless in all 16 league meetings with Manchester City (D2 L14), the joint-most one side has faced another in the history of the Football League without winning, level with Halifax Town against Cardiff City, and Wrexham against Crystal Palace.

- Manchester City have only lost their first home league game in one of the last 22 seasons (W15 D6), a 5-2 loss against Leicester in 2020-21. The Citizens' last four such games have produced 23 goals (F15 A8), at an average of 5.8 per game.

- Bournemouth have won two of their five Premier League away games against reigning champions (D1 L2), although both of their defeats in such games have been against Manchester City.

Updated August 12, 2022