Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester City
This SBOBET writer is on record as saying Sergio Aguero has been the best player in the Premier League since his arrival in English football in 2011.
It is very much still my belief and here was just a little bit more proof for the champions on the south coast.
The Argentine struck either side of the break to lead Manchester City to victory against a Bournemouth side which has lost all nine of its Premier League meetings with the Citizens.
He has now scored 400 goals for club and country combined, with 235 of those coming for City – quite a player!
Highlights of the game
Given the gulf in resources, it was no surprise that the Premier League betting odds strongly favoured the champions.
And again they produced some Premier League highlights to savour – in fairness, battling Bournemouth did too.
Just a quarter of an hour had elapsed when Aguero – who is probably the greatest player in the English top flight since the days of Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo – opened the scoring, turning home Kevin de Bruyne’s cross from close range.
When Raheem Sterling doubled their advantage with his fifth goal in as many matches two minutes before the break, flicking a shot beyond Cherries keeper Aaron Ramsdale after a fine David Silva pass, it looked all over.
Yet the Cherries could not be faulted for spirit and reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time with a moment of class of their own.
Charlie Daniels’ knee injury had prompted a reshuffle from boss Eddie Howe and led to Harry Wilson being introduced.
Seven minutes later he produced a superb free-kick, a shot flew into the top right corner and left Ederson with no chance.
It coincided with the hosts’ best period of the match and they also had opportunities of their own with Nathan Ake and Adam Smith failing to capitalise and Callum Wilson also calling Ederson into action.
Yet you can’t afford to waste such chances and Aguero made the game safe midway through the second period.
It was a moment fashioned by the other true star of City’s renaissance over the past eight years.
On the occasion of his 400th appearance for the club, skipper Silva collected the ball on the left of the Cherries’ penalty area and weaved away from two defenders before the ball broke to Aguero, to seal victory.
It was his second assist of the contest and a perfect way to cap such a milestone.
On a day when cricket made the leading sporting headlines, this was 400 not out for Aguero and Silva.
Key statistics
Agüero and Silva have now combined for 27 goals in the Premier League – the only duos to combine for more are Henry and Robert Pires (29) and Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard (36).
Sterling has scored 11 goals in all competitions versus Bournemouth; more than he has against any other opponent in his career. He has also scored nine goals and had two assists in just eight league appearances against them.
Sterling has scored in five consecutive club appearances in all competitions for the first time in his career.
Silva has become just the 14th different player to play 400 times for City.
City are unbeaten in all 15 meetings with Bournemouth and have won their eight Premier League fixtures by an aggregate score of 28-4.
The Cherries have only avoided defeat in one of their eight home games against City, a goalless draw in the third tier 20 years ago.
Bournemouth have lost 14 of their last 16 league games against ‘big six’ opposition.
The Cherries have not kept a clean sheet in any of their 23 Premier League games on a Sunday, conceding 59 goals in total.
However, their only two home wins on Sunday in the top flight have been against ‘big six’ sides (4-3 v Liverpool and 2-1 v Arsenal).
Since the start of last season, Harry Wilson has scored 11 goals from outside the box in all competitions, more than any other player in English football.
De Bruyne has registered four assists in the three Premier League games so far this season. He has 50 assists in his 123 Premier League appearances – the fewest number of games taken to assist 50 goals in the competition’s history.
City boss Pep Guardiola has won all seven of his Premier League meetings with Bournemouth – only versus Malaga (eight wins from eight) and West Ham (seven wins from seven) does he have a better or the same 100 per cent league win record against a team as a manager.
What’s next?
Bournemouth travel to Leicester City next weekend, while City entertain Brighton ahead of the first international break of the season.
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