Manchester City vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance53,358.
Report and free match highlights as Jeremy Doku starred in Man City's 6-1 win over Bournemouth; the winger opened the scoring then set up goals for Bernardo Silva, Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden; Erling Haaland was substituted at half-time after picking up a knock
Sunday 5 November 2023 09:55, UK
Jeremy Doku stole the show with a goal and four assists as Manchester City cruised to a 6-1 win over Bournemouth to record their fourth straight win in all competitions.
The Belgian winger opened the scoring with a stunning curled finish from the edge of the box, before laying on goals for Bernardo Silva and Manuel Akanji as the champions hit three goals in seven first-half minutes.
Doku's heroics came as Erling Haaland was taken off at half-time after limping down the tunnel as the whistle went. But his replacement Phil Foden was the beneficiary of another Doku assist as he finished just after the break.
Luis Sinisterra scored his first Bournemouth goal in a consolation to make it 4-1 - but Bernardo added a fifth when he ran through and chipped Radu from another Doku pass, before former Cherries defender Nathan Ake got in on the act late on.
The win for City moved Pep Guardiola's side above Premier League leaders Tottenham for a couple of hours at least, with second-placed Arsenal facing Newcastle on Saturday Night Football, kick-off 5.30pm.
Asked about the severity of Haaland's injury, Guardiola confirmed the forward had twisted his ankle - but could not confirm the severity of the injury.
"He twisted a little bit his ankle, hopefully it is not a big issue. We will look in the next hours," said Guardiola.
City held nearly three-quarters of the possession in the first half, but the early stages of the game saw the champions act impatiently by shooting wastefully from distance.
Bernardo, Rodri and Julian Alvarez all tried their luck from range, only for all three efforts to fly over the bar.
Mid-way through the first half, City stepped things up a little as Bernardo fed Alvarez down the right and his cross was hung up at the far post to Haaland - whose deflected header off Lloyd Kelly struck the post.
The Norwegian forward was denied by Kelly moments later as he blocked Haaland's shot in the box, before Bernardo curled just wide after a short corner.
Eventually, City's pressure finally produced a goal as Doku played a one-two with Rodri in the D before curling past Ionut Radu into the far corner.
Three minutes later, it was two, as Doku was released down the right and he dazzled the home crowd - and more importantly defender Chris Mepham - as he entered the box with some silky footwork. The Belgian squared for Bernardo, whose first-time shot found the net.
And City's work was complete on 37 minutes as another short corner saw Bernardo tee up Doku - whose off-target effort from range bounced off Akanji's back and past a hapless Radu.
Haaland missed two chances late in the first half to add to City's tally - not that he needed to given Doku's early work - and he was taken off by Guardiola at half-time after limping down the tunnel.
Bournemouth showed a bit more promise after the break and Dominic Solanke prodded home from close range in the early moments of the second half, but the offside flag rightly went up for an offside on Ryan Christie.
Solanke then hit the bar from a tight angle following Phillip Billing's flick-on - but then it was back to the other end for City.
Mateo Kovacic blasted over from Akanji's knock-down after good work from Doku - but the Belgian winger completed his assist hat-trick moments later.
Doku drove at the Bournemouth backline before feeding Foden in the box - who finished easily through the body of Radu.
The Cherries' consolation came after a raft of City changes as Max Aarons was released down the right, before he squared to Sinisterra to touch, then roll a finish past Ederson.
But the scoring wasn't done yet as Doku slipped Bernardo through on goal, with the midfielder chipping Radu and over the line. The ball was cleared away for Matheus Nunes to slam home and make sure - but the ball had already gone in from Silva's pass.
And a sixth rounded off the scoring as substitute Rico Lewis was released down the right, before crossing for Ake to head into an empty net.
Guardiola says Bernardo's second goal - a delicate chip over Radu in the second half - reminded him of Lionel Messi.
Asked if the midfielder is one of the best players in the Premier League or Europe, Guardiola told BBC Sport: "In the world. I said that many times.
"He made a good shot from a short corner and then after the first goal, the action for the second looks like Messi. I remembered, in that moment, Messi did that many times. Maybe that's too much of a compliment to him! But he deserves it."
As for Doku, who also completed four dribbles on Saturday - more than the entire Bournemouth team combined on Saturday - though Guardiola hailed his decision-making as the most impressive aspect he has seen from the young winger.
"We knew the one-v-one, the fact that surprised me the most is how clever he is to dribble," the City boss told Sky Sports.
"His decision for the extra pass, I had the feeling he understood everything. He understands the game really well."
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
Man City have got one on their hands here. Oh my, Jeremy Doku was sensational on Saturday afternoon. A goal and four assists from a performance which will leave the Bournemouth defenders with nightmares. He's box office.
The electric pace. The agility and close control to twist and turn at speed. And the combination of finishing quality and awareness of when to roll in a team-mate to make sure all that eye-catching approach play has a final product. Doku seems to have the lot. And he's just 21!
He even finished the match with most duels won by any player. Pep Guardiola will love that.
Man City aren't short on attacking options but right now Doku is the one you'd pay to watch. He had the fans out of their seats and was a threat from start to finish. Jack Grealish may be wondering whether this young speedster is going to take his place on that left-flank.
The truth is there is likely to be opportunities for both of them, depending on how Guardiola wants to approach it. But one things for sure: he has an incredible asset on his hands in Doku.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said the overall scoreline did not reflect the amount of chances they allowed City to have, making it a harsh result for the Cherries.
"The result has been harsh on the team, you are facing City but we didn't concede as many goals to concede six goals. They were really, really clinical but I preferred the way we played first half than second half. While we defended very well in the first 30 minutes, we were not aggressive enough in the first half. But the second half we conceded also three.
"We needed the five at the back to match up with the players they have up front. If you go man-to-man you have to play five.
"We made the mistake to think we were doing well defensively. It can work for 30 minutes like today, but with the quality of players they have, they will find a shot from the outside of the box and a one-two."
Man City host Young Boys in the Champions League as they look to keep up their perfect start to their European campaign, on Tuesday, kick-off 8pm. They then visit Chelsea in the Premier League on November 12 live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm.
Bournemouth are live on Sky Sports next weekend when former manager Eddie Howe brings his Newcastle side to the Vitality Stadium on November 11, kick-off 5.30pm. They then visit Sheff Utd after the international break on November 25, kick-off 3pm.
