Man City vs Bournemouth LIVE Today: Kick-Off Time, TV Channel, Line-Ups & Score Updates as Haaland Hunts Hat-Trick

Manchester City launch their Premier League title defence on Sunday, 23 August 2026, when Enzo Maresca’s side host AFC Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 14:00 BST (09:00 ET) with live television coverage listed on USA Network in the United States and Sky Sports Main Event/Ultra HD in the United Kingdom. H2: Why this fixture matters • Statement game for new City boss Enzo Maresca, whose Premier League bow comes against a Cherries side unbeaten in their last 18 league matches under previous manager Andoni Iraola. • Bournemouth’s new coach Marco Rose faces the toughest first-day assignment in top-flight history: no visiting manager has ever won his inaugural Premier League match at the Etihad. • City have won all nine prior home league meetings with Bournemouth by an aggregate 34-6, averaging 3.8 goals a game — their highest home scoring rate against any opponent. H2: Predicted line-ups Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Khusanov, Rúben Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Lewis; Semenyo, O’Reilly, Foden; Haaland. Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, António Silva, Hill, Truffert; Cook, Scott; Tavernier, Kluivert, Rayan; Evanilson. H2: Players to watch • Erling Haaland – 22 Premier League goals in August alone; averages a goal every 54 minutes during the month. • Antoine Semenyo – scored on opening day for Bournemouth in each of the last two seasons and now lines up against his former club. • Justin Kluivert – enters his second South-coast campaign after a 12-goal breakout year. H2: Tactical keys 1. Direct attacks: Bournemouth led the league for direct moves last term (83) and Rose’s RB Leipzig sides topped the Bundesliga in the same metric, suggesting early balls toward Evanilson and Kluivert will test City’s new-look centre-back duo. 2. Press-resistance: City’s double pivot of Anderson and teenager Rico Lewis must beat Bournemouth’s aggressive mid-block to supply Phil Foden between the lines. 3. Set-piece threat: Rúben Dias v António Silva pits Portugal’s present against its future at defensive headers; City scored 16 league goals from set pieces in 2025-26. H2: Match odds (DraftKings, 22 Aug) • Man City –215 • Draw +380 • Bournemouth +500 Over/Under 3.5 goals: Over +130, Under –125. H2: Prediction Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth City rarely stumble on matchday one and their historical dominance, coupled with Haaland’s August hot streak, points to a comfortable yet entertaining victory. Bournemouth’s direct pace should yield a goal, but Maresca’s men have too much quality. H2: How to follow • TV: Sky Sports (UK), USA Network / Peacock (US) • Radio: BBC 5 Live (UK), SiriusXM FC (US) • Live text: BBC Sport website; ESPN Gamecast Search terms worth tracking: Man City vs Bournemouth prediction, Manchester City lineup today, Haaland goals vs Bournemouth, Premier League live stream Etihad, Bournemouth unbeaten run.