Manchester City thrash Bournemouth to keep title hopes alive

Manchester City kept their hopes alive of defending the Premier League title as they thrashed Bournemouth 4-1 on Saturday evening.

Earlier in the day, Arsenal edged Leicester City to go five points clear, but Pep Guardiola’s side reduced the deficit to just 2 points, having played an extra game.

Alvarez opens the scoring

Argentina’s World Cup hero Julian Alvarez opened the scoring for the visitors in the 15^th minute when he tapped in a rebound from Erling Haaland’s deflected effort that hit the bar.

Guardiola’s side were at their clinical best, with Ilkay Gundogan pulling the strings in the middle of the park with a flawless performance.

Haaland breaks Aguero record

City doubled their lead in the 29^th minute when Haaland reacted quickest to poke home following Foden’s initial effort.

The goal took the Norwegian’s tally to 27, surpassing club legend Sergio Aguero’s goalscoring return in a single Premier League season.

The Cherries looked out of depth, and City soon were out of sight just before the end of the first half.

Phil Foden, playing in his 200th game for the club, capitalized from Philip Billing’s catastrophic square pass, and the left-footed winger thumped the ball into the back of the net as City were out of sight.

Soon after the restart, it was 4-0 in the 51^st minute when Alvarez lashed a shot towards goal, but it took the deflection off Chris Mepham to hit the back of the net.

City could have got their fifth right at the hour mark, but Neto well-gathered Nathan Ake’s powerful effort to keep it at 4-0.

Guardiola soon took off Haaland and Gundogan to give the duo much-deserved rest. He brought on new signing Maxime Perrone, giving the City fans a glimpse of the 20-year-old Argentinian.

Jefferson Lerma netted a late consolation for the hosts in the 83rd minute when he struck home following a pullback from Jordan Zemura.

The result means City are now at 55 points from 25 games, while Bournemouth are 19^th and facing serious relegation prospects.

Photo credit: IMAGO / PA Images