Phil Foden will become the youngest Manchester City player to reach 200 Premier League appearances after being named in Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup for this afternoon’s clash against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens academy graduate - a six-time Premier League winner - arrives at this impressive tally at the age of 25 years and 158 days, beating the previous record holder Raheem Sterling at 26 years and 284 days.
Foden is one of eight players who has been recalled to Guardiola’s first XI following City’s midweek **victory over Swansea (3-1)**in the EFL Cup fourth round, with Nico Gonzalez, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki - Man of the Match in South Wales - the only players to retain their starting spots.
While Gianluigi Donnarumma replaces James Trafford in goal, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly are also recalled to make up a four-man defence.
Rodri has made a welcome return to the substitutes' bench after missing the previous three matches with a hamstring injury. Gonzalez, meanwhile, will continue in the deep-lying midfield role.
Captain Bernardo Silva is set to operate on the right flank as Doku continues on the left, while both Doden and Cherki link up in attacking midfield roles in behind Erling Haaland, who is fit to lead the line.
Bournemouth's David Brooks on October 3, 2025
Brooks, Diakite recalled to Bournemouth XI, Evanilson on the bench
As for Bournemouth, head coach Andoni Iraola has made just two changes to the side that **beat Nottingham Forest 2-0**in the Premier League last weekend, a result that helped the Cherries climb to second in the table.
David Brooks will wear the captain’s armband after being recalled at the expense of Justin Kluivert, while Bafode Diakite replaces Veljko Milosavljevic at centre-back.
Diakite will partner Marcos Senesi at the heart of Bournemouth’s defence, protecting Djordje Petrovic between the sticks, while Alex Jimenez and Adrien Truffert continue as full-backs.
Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook will begin as substitutes once again as both Alex Scott and Tyler Adams are preferred in centre-midfield, while Brooks, Marcus Tavernier and in-form Antoine Semenyo will all link up in the final third to provide support for teenage striker Eli Junior Kroupi, who has scored three goals in his last two league games.
Kroupi retains his place in the starting lineup despite the return to fitness of Evanilson, who is back on the bench and in contention to make is first appearances since October 3 after recovering from injury.
Manchester City starting lineup: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Bernardo, Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Rodri, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Lewis
Bournemouth starting lineup: Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Adams; Brooks, Tavernier, Semenyo; Kroupi
Subs: Dennis, Cook, Smith, Christie, Adli, Milosavljevic, Gannon-Doak, Kluivert, Evanilson
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