Man City vs. Bournemouth confirmed lineups: Triple transfer hint, Haaland, Anderson decisions made by Maresca

Enzo Maresca has named his first starting lineup as a Premier League manager for Manchester City ahead of this afternoon’s 2026-27 opener against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.

The new Citizens boss has made a total of two changes to the team that suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend, with Mateo Kovacic and the injured Jeremy Doku dropping out of the side.

Rico Lewis has been recalled and is likely to begin in centre-midfield alongside club-record signing Elliot Anderson, who will make his full debut as a Citizens player at the Etihad.

Marc Guehi has also returned to the first XI and will join Ruben Dias, Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol in a four-man defence, the latter is expected to move over to left-back.

Nico O'Reilly retains his starting spot but is set to move into midfield or potentially out onto the left flank in the absence of Doku. However, Antoine Semenyo may instead begin on the left, with Phil Foden out on the right.

Leading the line with a fresh haircut is goal machine Erling Haaland, who has scored 22 goals in just 14 games for Man City in the month of August, as well as seven strikes in four opening-weekend games in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, Nico Gonzalez, Omar Marmoush and Jack Grealish – who have all been linked with transfers away from the club – have been included in Man City’s matchday squad and will begin as substitutes, suggesting that an imminent exit is not quite on the cards.

Matheus Nunes, who has recovered from a minor muscle problem, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and new backup goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli are also among the substitutes.

Silva handed PL debut by new Bournemouth boss Rose

As for Bournemouth, new head coach Marco Rose has included summer signing Antonio Silva in his first starting lineup as a Premier League manager.

The £25.7m arrival from Benfica will partner James Hill at centre-back, while full-backs Adam Smith and Adrien Truffert will complete the four-man defence in front of goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic.

Lewis Cook and Adam Scott will link arms in centre-midfield as Rayan, Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavenier all operate in advanced positions in behind central striker Evanilson.

David Brooks and Tyler Adams are both fit to make the substitutes bench along with new signings Alvaro Rodriguez and Juanlu Sanchez, who are ready to make their debuts.

Manchester City starting lineup: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Lewis, Anderson, O’Reilly; Foden, Haaland, Semenyo

Subs: Rulli, Marmoush, Kovacic, Cherki, Gonzalez, Grealish, Ait-Nouri, Reis, Nunes

Bournemouth starting lineup: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Cook, Scott; Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson

Subs: Dennis, Brooks, Gannon-Doak, Adams, Diakite, Juanlu, Toth, Jebbison, Rodriguez