Man City handed early boost for Bournemouth clash as Andoni Iraola decision backfires 'horrendously'

Manchester City person received an aboriginal boost for adjacent weekend's Premier League clash with Bournemouth, which Ryan Christie volition miss owed to suspension.

The Sky Blues are firstly aiming to determination to wrong 2 points of leaders Arsenal - who person played a crippled much - successful the Premier League table erstwhile they tackle Brentford connected Saturday evening.

The Gunners volition past person the accidental to respond erstwhile they question to West Ham United connected Sunday afternoon, earlier Man City instrumentality to enactment successful midweek against Crystal Palace.

Following the FA Cup last showdown with Chelsea connected May 16, Pep Guardiola's broadside play their penultimate league crippled of the play against Bournemouth astatine the Vitality Stadium connected May 19, and Andoni Iraola's midfield volition beryllium partially weakened for that fixture.

The Bournemouth brag swapped retired Tyler Adams for Christie successful Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham, but his determination backfired successful the archetypal half, erstwhile the second was dismissed for superior foul play.

Bournemouth's Ryan Christie to miss Man City lucifer done suspension

Christie was primitively booked for a precocious tackle connected Timothy Castagne, but pursuing a VAR review, his punishment was upgraded to a reddish card.

Former England guardant Sue Smith blasted Christie's situation connected Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, saying: "Initially it conscionable looked similar a beardown challenge.

"Mike [Dean] spotted it consecutive away. When you spot the still, it's a reddish card. It's a truly nasty challenge. In dilatory question it looks horrendous."

As reddish cards for superior foul play transportation a three-game suspension, Christie's Premier League play is over, meaning that helium volition miss the sojourn of Man City and the travel to Nottingham Forest connected the last day.

Shortly aft Christie's dismissal, Fulham besides went down to 10 men, arsenic defender Joachim Andersen took the locomotion of shame for a likewise mediocre situation connected Adrien Truffert.

How tin Bournemouth regenerate Ryan Christie against Man City?

Christie's lack against Man City volition deprive Bournemouth of an experienced enactment against the rubric chasers, but the 31-year-old has lone started 9 Premier League games successful the 2025-26 season.

Adams and Alex Scott are Iraola's first-choice pairing erstwhile afloat fit, and the USA planetary should beryllium a consecutive swap for his banned teammate successful gameweek 37.

Alternatively, 20-year-old January signing Alex Toth could beryllium introduced into the archetypal XI, portion Lewis Cook could besides instrumentality from a hamstring wounded successful clip to look Guardiola's side.