Manchester City put on an excellent display as they beat Bournemouth 3-1 on Sunday. And one player, based on his dazzling performance against the Cherries, simply has to start every game for Pep Guardiola's side moving forward.
Erling Haaland, in typical fashion, gave the hosts the lead after being played through on goal by Rayan Cherki, cooly slotting past Dorde Petrovic. But Bournemouth hit back shortly after, as Tyler Adams capitalised on an error from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City restored their lead just minutes later, though. Haaland once again raced through on goal, rounding the on-rushing Petrovic before finishing from a tight angle.
Although Andoni Iraola's side kept knocking on the door in search of an equaliser, the hosts cemented their dominance when Nico O'Reilly grabbed a third on the hour mark. A win catapults City to second in the league, a point ahead of Sunday's opponents.
Cherki Shines Against Bournemouth
Manchester City's Rayan Cherki in action with AFC Bournemouth's Tyler Adams
Premier League - Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 2, 2025 Manchester City's Rayan Cherki in action with AFC Bournemouth's Tyler Adams REUTERS/Phil Noble
Although Haaland will claim the headlines for his brace, equal praise should be given to the playmaker tucking in behind him. Cherki helped run the show against Bournemouth on Sunday, providing an impetus that had been lacking for large portions of City's loss against Aston Villa.
It was the Frenchman's header which allowed Haaland to open the scoring, but he was equally important in the second goal. Spinning away from Bournemouth defenders, he then laid the ball on a plate for O'Reilly outside the penalty area, with the left-back marching forward and finishing superbly to put the game out of reach.
Aside from the two assists, Cherki was accurate with his crossing and most of his passing, playing two key passes and getting on the ball whenever possible, looking to drive the team forward. Also fulfilling his defensive duties by completing three out of three tackles, he's wasted little time in striking up an effective partnership with those around him, and looks to be an excellent replacement for City's former playmaker, Kevin De Bruyne.
Check out Cherki's statistics against Bournemouth below:
Rayan Cherki's Statistics - Man City 3-1 Bournemouth
Assists
Key Passes
Passing accuracy
Shots (On Target)
Touches
Tackles (Won)
Recoveries
Ground Duels (Won)
Although he's got a long way to go before he matches the legacy left by the Belgian at the Etihad, Sunday's performance proved that the 22-year-old can be a creative force against exceptional teams. City face a difficult challenge in closing the gap to Arsenal, who sit six points clear at the top of the table, but you wouldn't put it past Guardiola's side if Cherki continues to shine.
Supporters Loved What They Saw From 'Demon' Cherki
Erling Haaland celebrates scoring with teammate Rayan Cherki during Manchester City vs Bournemouth.
Premier League - Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 2, 2025 Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring their first goal with Manchester City's Rayan Cherki Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
The sentiment that Cherki has to start whenever possible was one echoed by supporters who watched him in action against Bournemouth. One fan remained confident that they could catch Arsenal, stating: "If Cherki starts playing regularly at 10 we can still win the league man."
That was echoed by another supporter, who said: "If Cherki stays fit, City win the Premier League this season. It's that simple. Completely a different team when he's on the pitch."
One more fan wrote: "Them Cherki debates were just disrespectful, he’s a joke." While another simply said: "Cherki changed my life"
His talent was never in question at former club Lyon, with Thierry Henry hailing him as "extraordinary," and many believe that he is playing his best football now that he is playing alongside one of the best players in the world in the form of Haaland. One person said: "Two assists for Cherki in 30 minutes, what’s funnier is that anyone who knows him a little bit knew this would happen as soon as the coach started him with best ST in the world. Guy was making old Lacazette look like his former self loool he’s a demon."
With both players forming an excellent partnership, City are certainly not out of the title race just yet. But Guardiola simply has to play Cherki if he wants to claim a seventh Premier League title.