Ait-Nouri To Start, Doku On The Bench | 4-2-3-1 Manchester City Predicted Lineup Vs Bournemouth | OneFootball

Manchester City will welcome Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday as they look to earn a good result at home in the Premier League. The Mancunian club suffered a poor 3-0 loss at the hands of Arsenal in the Community Shield final, so they would be eager to bounce back by securing all three points versus the Cherries this weekend.

Enzo Maresca will opt for the 4-2-3-1 formation and is expected to make one change to his first team for this game. Rayan Ait-Nouri will get a chance to impress from the start of this game, while Jeremy Doku makes way for him and drops to the bench.

4-2-3-1 Manchester City Predicted Lineup To Face Bournemouth

Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma will function in goal for Man City as he looks to secure a clean sheet at the Etihad this weekend. Ruben Dias will resume his partnership with Josko Gvardiol at the centre of Maresca’s defence they try to keep the opposition attackers frustrated during the game.

Abdukodir Khusanov will fill in as the right-back, while Nico O’Reilly hopes to impress on the other side as the left-back. Both of them will get the freedom to go forward and express themselves inside the opponent’s half.

Marc Guehi will offer cover for the centre-back positions on the bench.

CARDIFF, WALES – AUGUST 16: Phil Foden of Manchester City nduring the 2026 FA Community Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Principality Stadium on August 16, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Midfield

Mateo Kovacic and Elliot Anderson will anchor the midfield for the Mancunian giants as they hope to win the 50-50 battles at the centre of the park and engineer some clear-cut chances in the final third.

The gifted trio of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Phil Foden and Antoine Semenyo will operate just ahead of them as part of Man City’s attack. All three of them need to move the ball well in and around the Bournemouth penalty box if Man City are to secure a convincing win this weekend.

Rayan Cherki and Nico Gonzalez will have to be content with a place on the bench as they await their opportunity to catch the eye in the second 45 minutes if required.

Attack

Erling Haaland will spearhead Maresca’s attack up top. The Norway international has to figure out a way to be a real menace in the final third.

Jeremy Doku will make up the numbers on the bench and might come on to make an impact in the final quarter of the game if needed.