Barring something incredible and bizarre happening, Manchester City are out of the Premier League title race at this point in the season. They’re 15 points back with too small a window of time available to make that gap up, and right now they have bigger concerns -- namely the four other teams within five points of City’s now-tenuous grasp on fourth place in the EPL.
Manchester City vs. Bournemouth 2016 online streaming: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Manchester City destroyed Bournemuth when last they met. Can they avoid that same fate again?
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That’s why this trip to Bournemouth is so important. City have been on a slide for the last month, winning just once in their last six matches and dropping three straight. If they want to keep hold of that fourth and final Champions League place in the EPL, they have to stop this run of poor form and they have to start winning games right now. If they don’t, if they keep dropping matches, they’re not going to be in the Champions League next season.
Key player -- David Silva (Manchester City)
With Yaya Toure out and Raheem Sterling out and Kevin De Bruyne likely to still be out, Manchester’s creative load is going to fall on Silva’s shoulders. He hasn’t always been as good this season as we’ve been used to seeing from him in the past, but if he can step up and take charge in this match, Bournemouth lack a midfielder who can keep him in check. Should Silva get rolling early, it’s going to be hard to stop him.
Key factor-- Manchester City’s ability to adapt
One of the things that City has struggled with at times is adaptability. Especially against smaller teams, they’ve tended to go into matches with a single gameplan -- and then if that gameplan gets countered, they don’t have anything else to fall back on and have a hard time getting back into the game. Especially with so much of their attack out injured, Manchester will need to come into this game with a few different plans in mind, because if things don’t click, they won’t just be able to rely on skill to float them through this match.
AFC Bournemouth injuries and suspensions
Out: Junior Stanislas, Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings In doubt: Harry Arter, Josh King
Manchester City injuries and suspensions
Out: Joe Hart, Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling, Vince Kompany, Fabian Delph In doubt: Kevin De Bruyne, Samir Nasri
Match Date/Time: Sat., 10 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. local
Venue: The Goldsands Stadium, Bournemouth, England
TV: Sportsnet regional networks (Canada)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada)
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