Haaland on target again as Manchester City stroll to victory at Bournemouth

It seems crazy to consider Pep Guardiola was actually being asked about Manchester City lacking a cutting edge. A ruthless streak may have eluded City at Nottingham Forest last weekend and in Leipzig in midweek but there was no questioning their attacking output here. City bludgeoned Bournemouth 4-1, a scoreline they eased towards with almost half of the game to go.

First-half goals by Julián Álvarez, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden earned City a comprehensive buffer before Chris Mepham’s own goal increased their advantage. Jefferson Lerma rattled in a consolation with seven minutes of normal time to play but City were always going to return within two points of leaders Arsenal, who have played one game fewer. The nip-and-tuck race continues.

Can we play you every week? That was one of the few songs City’s jubilant away support did not break into and in failing to do so, really, they missed something of an open goal. City have won all 12 of their Premier League meetings with Bournemouth, by an aggregate score of 38-5. City fans were understandably in good spirits. “Erling Haaland, he’s scored more than you,” they sang as Haaland was replaced by the debutant Maximo Perrone, signed from Velez Sarsfield in January, with 72 minutes on the clock.

Before then they made light of the charges handed down from the Premier League earlier this month over their alleged rule breaches. “We’ll cheat when we want,” came the chant after Ederson – just about – prevented a Bournemouth corner.

By the time Foden added City’s third approaching the interval, the game was rendered a non-event. The sight of the Bournemouth manager, Gary O’Neil, head bowed as Foden wheeled away in celebration towards the nearest corner flag told its own story.

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