Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth

Premier League 2026/27 opens with fresh starts on both sides. Manchester City begin the post-Guardiola era under new boss Enzo Maresca after finishing runners-up last season, while Bournemouth arrive off their best-ever sixth-place finish and a maiden Europa League campaign under incoming head coach Marco Rose. City ended last term with a domestic cup double, Erling Haaland topping the scoring charts with 38 goals. Bournemouth went unbeaten for 18 matches on their way to Europe, with Antoine Semenyo so key to that run he's since signed a new deal through 2030. This fixture has historically been one-sided in City's favour, though Bournemouth did claim a first-ever win over them back in November 2024. Both squads have reshaped in recent windows, City rebuilding around Haaland and Bournemouth having lost defenders Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez. With new eras underway for both clubs, City's extra firepower should still tell early on. Our prediction: 3-1