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Manchester City hosted Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium as Pep Guardiola's side aimed to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points. They did just that, courtesy of a 3-1 win over the Cherries in a game where the likes of David Silva and Sergio Aguero were rested by Guardiola.
Bernardo Silva opened the scoring when he lashed in a powerful shot after Leroy Sane had run in behind the defence. But City slacked off after taking the lead and Bournemouth capitalised, equalising after Callum Wilson headed home from Trevor Francis' cross.
Raheem Sterling restored City's lead in the second half when he fired a rebound off Asmir Begovic into the roof of the net. Ilkay Gundogan made the game safe ten minutes from time when he slotted from Leroy Sane's low cross.
The win meant that City have dropped just two points in the league this season. Meanwhile, Bournemouth slipped to ninth in the table due to their loss.
Here are the main talking points from the game.
#1 Bournemouth can take heart from the game despite the defeat
The 3-1 scoreline may portray it as a straightforward win for City, but that was not the case. Bournemouth rallied well after conceding the first goal and deservedly broke level when Callum Wilson scored.
Eddie Howe's record at the Etihad Stadium was pretty woeful, so he adopted a conservative approach to rectify that. He deployed a three-man backline to stifle the hosts, and it seemed to be working quite well. City were looking short on attacking inspiration when Bournemouth equalised, before Sterling's goal changed the tide.
Wilson continued his excellent form, and the goal was his seventh this season. Bournemouth currently sit in 9th place after the defeat, but with the quality of football they have produced this season, Howe can be hopeful of claiming a top-half finish.
#2 Leroy Sane harasses Bournemouth in a 'man of the match' display
After a sensational campaign last time, Leroy Sane's season started off slowly. He was failing to displace Riyad Mahrez from the starting lineup, and his situation with the national team was looking doubtful as well.
Fast forward a couple of months, and the wiry German winger is back to his best. Against Bournemouth, Sane was electric, and Cherries right-back Trevor Francis was left chasing behind him. His run in behind the defence set up the opening goal, and his squared pass to Gundogan sealed the game for the Cityzens.
Sane was impressive in last week's game against West Ham as well. The injury to Benjamin Mendy has probably secured his starting place a bit more, as he is the only person who can provide width on the left side with his natural foot.
#3 The squad depth at Guardiola's disposal is frightening
Kevin De Bruyne was injured. Bernardo Silva filled in, as he has done impressively this season. Sergio Aguero had a knock. Gabriel Jesus, one of the best young players in the world filled in. David Silva was afforded a rest. Ilkay Gundogan, another elite midfielder, filled in.
Simply put, it's just scary. Guardiola has backups to his starters who would walk into most lineups in the division. The likes of Gundogan, Jesus, Mahrez, and others will arguably not make his strongest eleven, but they are content with a place on the bench, ready to fill in as and when needed.
Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker did not play for contrasting reasons, and Oleksandr Zinchenko and Danilo deputised for them. Now this tremendous depth is largely due to the finances available at Manchester City, but for whatever reasons, they have one of the strongest sides in world football. As a busy December awaits them, it will certainly come useful then.
#4 Raheem Sterling is reaching new levels this season
Sterling was a key component of the City side last season, and he has taken it further this season. He is the joint top-scorer in the league with 8 goals, and he has provided the most assists as well with 6.
The England winger plays in an inside forward position, which enables him to make runs in the box to get into scoring positions. He scored the goal which turned out to be the eventual winner against Bournemouth, a strike which was indicative of his conducive positioning.
Sterling's 23 goals last season eclipsed his previous best of 11 by a long margin, but it is looking as though he can better it again this season. His solo goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in the 6-0 mauling was a symbol of the season he is having. Imperious, fearless, and supremely confident. Also, he's just 23 years of age. What a player he could become. (*gulp*)
#5 The importance of Aguero and Silva was highlighted
The duo of David Silva and Sergio Aguero did not start the game, as they were rested. Silva came on off the bench, and Aguero was not even in the squad courtesy of a knock.
Even though City got the win, they looked relatively insipid at times when in possession. They missed the control and incisiveness Silva brings to the table, and though Bernardo had a fine game, he is still inferior to his namesake.
Gabriel Jesus played well enough, but he failed to link up as well as Aguero with his fellow attackers. Aguero is still a key piece of this side, and Guardiola will be keen to get him back in the side. Both Silva and Aguero will be needed against superior opposition, and Guardiola will surely hope that he can unleash them upon Chelsea next weekend.
