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Attendance: 54,270
Manchester City logo
Premier League
Dec 23, 2017 at 3pm UK
 
Bournemouth logo

4-0

Aguero (27', 79'), Sterling (53'), Danilo (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Manchester City too strong for Bournemouth

Manchester City move 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City have moved 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.

Sergio Aguero (2), Raheem Sterling and Danilo scored the goals for the Citizens, who have now won their last 17 Premier League matches during an incredible 2017-18 campaign.

Kyle Walker congratulates Raheem Sterling for making it 2-0 during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Bournemouth on December 23, 2017© SilverHub

All of City's big hitters were back following their EFL Cup clash with Leicester City, with Aguero leading an attack which also included Sterling, Leroy Sane, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. Vincent Kompany, meanwhile, also returned for the Citizens.

The headline team news for Bournemouth was that there was a Premier League debut for 20-year-old centre-back Jack Simpson, while Jordon Ibe, Junior Stanislas and Dan Gosling all started for the away side.

It was the visitors that had the first half-chance of the match in the 10th minute, but Stanislas could only fire wide from the edge of the box after being found by Ibe from a wide position.

City were having all of the ball as the half developed, however, as they looked to pick a way through the Bournemouth defence.

Aguero had a decent opening in the 20th minute after collecting a super pass from Nicolas Otamendi, but the Argentine fired his effort over the crossbar.

Dan Gosling of Bournemouth during the Premier League match against Manchester City on December 23, 2017© SilverHub

Aguero was not to be denied seven minutes later, however, when he headed a Fernandinho cross into the bottom corner as City made the breakthrough after a fairly uneventful opening 26 minutes of football.

Bournemouth managed to restrict the home side to few clear chances in the first half of action, but City were utterly dominant in terms of possession, with that figure reaching 80% in the latter stages of the first period.

A mix-up between Kyle Walker and his goalkeeper Ederson presented Bournemouth with a half-chance late in the first half, but Callum Wilson could not finish for the visitors, who were causing the Citizens some problems.

Jack Simpson of Bournemouth makes his Premier League debut against Manchester City on December 23, 2017© SilverHub

David Silva had the first opening of the second period after the ball fell kindly for the Spanish midfielder in a dangerous area, but Bournemouth centre-back Steve Cook was on hand to make a brilliant challenge.

City doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, however, when Aguero's clever flick released Sterling, and the England international finished from inside the box to continue his excellent scoring form.

It took until the 77th minute for City to create another chance of note, with David Silva curling just wide of the Bournemouth post as the home side closed on a comfortable three points.

Aguero made it 3-0 10 minutes from time when he headed a Bernardo Silva cross into the back of the net, before substitute Danilo scored the home side's fourth - converting at the near post after a smart pass from Sterling.

Next up for runaway leaders City is a trip to Newcastle United on December 27, while struggling Bournemouth will host West Ham United on Boxing Day.

City (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Delph (Danilo 81'); Fernandinho, De Bruyne (Gundogan 74'), D.Silva; Sterling, Aguero, Sane (B.Silva 67')

Bournemouth (5-4-1): Begovic; Smith, Cook, Ake, Simpson (Mousset 72'), Fraser; Stanislas (Pugh 12'), Gosling, Surman, Ibe; Wilson (Afobe 72')

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