Man City lineup vs. Bournemouth: Predicted XI for opening 2026-27 Premier League fixture

Manchester City will be without Jeremy Doku for their opening match of the 2026-27 Premier League season at home to Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.

The Belgian winger aggravated a calf issue in last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield and has been ruled out of action for two to three weeks by new manager Enzo Maresca.

Tottenham Hotspur-bound Savinho is also unavailable, while Omar Marmoush may also miss out if a deal is agreed for him to move to North London, but Matheus Nunes is available to return after shaking off a minor muscle problem.

In the absence of Doku and with Man City light in the forward areas at present, Maresca could surprisingly turn to Jack Grealish to start on the left flank, while ex-Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo is expected to operate on the opposite flank.

Goal machine Erling Haaland has scored seven goals in just four opening-weekend Premier League games, as well as recording 22 strikes in just 14 matches in August, so few will be surprised to see him lead the line for the Citizens.

Phil Foden impressed Maresca during pre-season and is likely to get the nod to start in an advanced central role ahead of Rayan Cherki, while club-record signing Elliot Anderson is set to take up the ‘Rodri role’ in midfield alongside Mateo Kovacic.

Nunes could return at right-back at the expense of Abdukodir Khusanov, while Marc Guehi will be pushing to start at centre-back ahead of either Ruben Dias or Josko Gvardiol, who is also an option to battle with Nico O’Reilly for the left-back berth.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Anderson, Kovacic; Semenyo, Foden, Grealish; Haaland

> Click here to see how Bournemouth could line up against Manchester City