Jeremy Doku shines as Manchester City hit sorry Bournemouth for six in Premier League

Jeremy Doku produced a stunning performance as champions Manchester City overcame the loss of Erling Haaland to thrash Bournemouth 6-1 on Saturday.

Doku was the architect of an emphatic success, scoring their opener and having a hand in four other goals as City overpowered the Cherries in a one-sided Premier League clash.

Bernardo Silva twice benefited from Doku's work to score a brace while Phil Foden, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake also got on the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium.

Luis Sinisterra grabbed a Bournemouth consolation but the only real concern for City was an injury to Haaland, who hit the woodwork early on before hobbling off at half-time.

City, who are already without Kevin De Bruyne for a prolonged period, will hope the problem does not prove serious with games against Chelsea and Liverpool in the coming weeks.

On this occasion, City did not really need the Norway international.

The feelgood factor Bournemouth generated by winning their first league game of the season last week quickly evaporated as City eased through the gears.

“It shows that we want to continue what we've been doing,” said defender Ake, who scored the final goal. “Last week was a good game but the league goes on and you have to keep going and keep winning.

“We expected them [Bournemouth] to play with four defenders as they have all season but they changed to five. It's about finding the spaces, Jeremy [Doku] was fantastic sometimes you need individual quality to open up the game and he did that he was fantastic.”

It may have taken them 30 minutes to register their opening goal but, such was their dominance, the result rarely seemed in doubt.

Silva sent a dipping effort narrowly over the bar and Rodri shot straight at Andrei Radu.

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