Manchester City made a winning start to their Premier League title defence last Sunday.
Against West Ham, Erling Haaland was the star of the show, but City's all-round display was something Michail Antonio dubbed 'a masterclass' earlier this week. Dominant in possession, slow and methodical at times, but killer on the break, it was a display that showed Pep Guardiola's side means business.
They'll want to back up that performance with another convincing win against Bournemouth this weekend, so Guardiola will likely not make many changes to his side, but the tactical approach may shift significantly.
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The Hammers are a team that like to attack and use their width to create overloads on transitions, but City's narrow formation - with Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker shifting into midfield - limited their time on the ball. And in such high temperatures, the Blues' domination on the ball paid off in the end.
Scott Parker's side have a slightly different approach and will likely drop even deeper this Saturday. Much has been said about City's ability to play against teams deploying a low block, but this summer's recruitment has given them a number of different options at breaking that down.
Haaland - of course - will start up-front and his mixture of physique and speed will be a nightmare for any defence to deal with. The Norway international can leap higher than most if a ball is floated in, but he is equally capable - as Sunday showed - of using his pace to race away from the backline and find a killer finish.
The rest of the front line is interchangeable, but the so-called 'lock-pickers' could be vital in breaking down such a stubborn defensive line. Riyad Mahrez has scored some crucial goals against Bournemouth in the past and his ability to operate in tight areas could create a fair amount of opportunities.
Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were the preferred wing pairing last weekend and earned specific praise from Guardiola post-match, but in such a jam-packed season, rest and rotation week-on-week will perhaps be more relevant than ever.
In these type of games, scoring an early goal is always important and puts pressure on the opposition to push higher up the field. City will want to get off to a fast start in the forecasted heat and force Bournemouth into all the hard work off the ball.
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