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Man City player ratings v Bournemouth - ‘Exceptional’ 10/10 performance as three more earn 8/10

Michael Plant
·5-min read
Manchester City's Belgian midfielder #11 Jeremy Doku during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 4, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester City moved back to the top of the Premier League on Saturday after a 6-1 win over Bournemouth at the Etihad.

The champions enjoyed a relatively comfortable afternoon against Andoni Iraola’s side and were 4-0 up going into the final 20 minutes, mainly thanks to an outstanding display from star man Jeremy Doku. The Belgian netted City’s opener and then provided four assists in a remarkable personal performance.

It was a slightly frustrating opening half an hour for City, who patiently moved the ball around and looked to find miniscule gaps in the Bournemouth rearguard. In fact, the majority of shots came from distance, as Bernardo Silva twice curled effort off target from distance, as did Rodri in the 18th minute. Erling Haaland also looked dangerous as Lloyd Kelly was forced to scramble across and block his goal-bound strike, while the Norwegian’s back-post header crashed off the post.

Displayed superb passing as usual, with a number of fizzed passes along the deck. The keeper didn't have many saves to make and could do nothing about Sinisterra's goal.
Displayed superb passing as usual, with a number of fizzed passes along the deck. The keeper didn't have many saves to make and could do nothing about Sinisterra's goal.

Yet, three goals in eight minutes removed any tentative City concerns, with Doku at the heart of all three. The first, on 30 minutes, he placed into the back of the net after exchanging a one-two pass with Rodri at the edge of the box. The winger then teed up Silva for a simple finish past Andrei Radu, after some elaborate and well-coordinated footwork bamboozled Chris Mepham.

For City’s third, Doku collected the ball from Silva outside the area and fired into the Bournemouth net, only for replays to show it appeared to be going off target, before taking a nick off the back of Akanji.

Remarkably, the summer signing increased his tally of goal contributions up to four for the afternoon, when in the second half he shimmied his way through the Bournemouth midfield and flicked the ball into the path of Phil Foden, who powerfully fired into the back of the net.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic though, as Dominic Solanke saw a second-half goal disallowed and hit the crossbar on the hour mark. Bournemouth offered a threat down City’s right, and in the 74th minute Luis Sinisterra tapped in at the back post from Illya Zabarnyi’s cross, to give the travelling fans one moment of joy.

Pushed up higher than usual and provided a real out ball for City. His rapid responses at the back also quelled a few tentative Bournemouth attacks in the first half.
Pushed up higher than usual and provided a real out ball for City. His rapid responses at the back also quelled a few tentative Bournemouth attacks in the first half.

But City added two more in the latter stages as Doku’s defence-splitting pass found Silva, who then impudently flicked the ball over Radu and into the back of the net, before Nathan Ake’s dividing header from an Oscar Bobb cross made it six.

Here's how we rated the City players...

Defended well and advanced several times with the ball from the back.
Defended well and advanced several times with the ball from the back.
Good in possession and he played a slightly deeper role than in recent weeks.
Good in possession and he played a slightly deeper role than in recent weeks.
Pushed inside when City had the ball and tended to avail of the easy pass to Doku, rather than attempting anything too complicated. Most of Bournemouth's attacks did come down Ake's goal, though, and the ex-Bournemouth man grabbed a late sixth at the end.
Pushed inside when City had the ball and tended to avail of the easy pass to Doku, rather than attempting anything too complicated. Most of Bournemouth's attacks did come down Ake's goal, though, and the ex-Bournemouth man grabbed a late sixth at the end.
As always, the Spaniard moved the ball well and rarely misplaced a pass.
As always, the Spaniard moved the ball well and rarely misplaced a pass.
Provided real energy in the middle and carried the ball forward on numerous occasions, especially in the latter stages of the game.
Provided real energy in the middle and carried the ball forward on numerous occasions, especially in the latter stages of the game.
Started as a no.10 but pushed into a centre-forward position once Haaland was replaced at the break. Bournemouth struggled to stop Alvarez's runs from deep in the opening 45 minutes.
Started as a no.10 but pushed into a centre-forward position once Haaland was replaced at the break. Bournemouth struggled to stop Alvarez's runs from deep in the opening 45 minutes.
Another excellent showing from Silva, who scored City's second and set up the third. The Portugal international linked well with Walker down the right, but also moved inside and helped City control the game.
Another excellent showing from Silva, who scored City's second and set up the third. The Portugal international linked well with Walker down the right, but also moved inside and helped City control the game.
Hobbled off at the end of the first half and didn't emerge for the second period. It was a slightly frustrating first 45 for the striker, who hit the post and saw two good shots blocked by last-ditch interceptions.
Hobbled off at the end of the first half and didn't emerge for the second period. It was a slightly frustrating first 45 for the striker, who hit the post and saw two good shots blocked by last-ditch interceptions.
Was exceptional in the wide areas with his incisive dribbling. Doku's fast feet and trickery were impossible for Bournemouth to deal with, and the attacker played a part in five of the six goals.
Was exceptional in the wide areas with his incisive dribbling. Doku's fast feet and trickery were impossible for Bournemouth to deal with, and the attacker played a part in five of the six goals.
Linked well with City team-mates and his ability to take the ball on the turn launched several attacks.
Linked well with City team-mates and his ability to take the ball on the turn launched several attacks.
Didn't have much to do, but moved the ball well at the back.
Didn't have much to do, but moved the ball well at the back.
Tended to use the simple pass after his introduction late on.
Tended to use the simple pass after his introduction late on.
There wasn't much for Nunes to add after coming on, but he showed a desire to help extend City's lead.
There wasn't much for Nunes to add after coming on, but he showed a desire to help extend City's lead.
Oscar Bobb (on 85)
Oscar Bobb (on 85)