Fresh start, familiar foe

Sunday's meeting with Bournemouth marks the beginning of Enzo Maresca's Premier League tenure, and it could hardly arrive with more questions hanging over the squad. The Community Shield defeat to Arsenal was a sobering afternoon, but the real examination starts now.

City have met Bournemouth nine times at home in the Premier League and won all nine, scoring 34 goals and conceding six. On that record alone, the bookmakers' confidence is understandable — the Blues are 1/2 favourites, with Bournemouth 28/5 to claim a first-ever league win at the Etihad and the draw at 4/1.

Yet the last meeting between these sides ended 1-1 at the Vitality Stadium, a result that officially ended City's 2025/26 title bid. That memory, combined with the manner of the Arsenal defeat and the departure of key players, has raised genuine concerns about whether this squad can challenge again.

Team news: Doku out, Grealish in line

Jeremy Doku's afternoon at the Principality Stadium lasted only until half-time, when a calf injury forced him off. Maresca has confirmed the winger will be sidelined for up to three weeks. Jack Grealish replaced him that day and is in line to start on the left wing, with Antoine Semenyo on the opposite flank.

Semenyo, who impressed after his mid-season move to City, has looked even sharper in pre-season, registering four assists in four appearances. He is 9/2 to add another against his former club.

Matheus Nunes missed the Community Shield with a minor muscle problem but is available again and could replace Abdukodir Khusanov at right-back.

Off the pitch, there is movement too. Savinho has been given permission to undergo a medical ahead of a permanent move to Tottenham, while Omar Marmoush is also the subject of heavy interest from the north London side.

Bournemouth's new-look side

Marco Rose has replaced Andoni Iraola in the Bournemouth dugout, and he has injury issues of his own. Eli Junior Kroupi, who scored 13 Premier League goals in his debut season, is out for the opening three months with a foot injury suffered in pre-season. Julian Araujo has had surgery on a thigh problem, Amine Adli is out for a few weeks with a calf injury, and Veljko Milosavljevic has yet to return after an injury before the Under-19 European Championships.

Ryan Christie serves the final game of his suspension, while David Brooks and Julio Soler face late fitness tests. There is better news with Tyler Adams, who has returned to training — Rose says the USA international is ready for 45 to 60 minutes.

Centre-back Antonio Silva, signed from Benfica for £25 million in the summer, is set to make his Premier League debut alongside James Hill. Fellow new signings Alvaro Rodriguez and Juanlu Sanchez may have to settle for bench places after only recently returning to team training.

Erling Haaland scored twice in this fixture last season and netted the late equaliser at the Vitality. He is 7/10 to score again, while a repeat of last season's 3-1 scoreline is 11/1. The prediction here is a City win with both teams scoring at 13/8.

Maresca's side are 7/2 second favourites for the title. A convincing opening day would quieten some of the doubters.