A wounded Manchester City will look to rediscover their rhythm when they welcome an in-form Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s men fell 1-0 to Aston Villa last weekend, as Softfootball reported. The result left them six points behind leaders Arsenal heading into Matchweek 10. However, City will draw confidence from their dominant home record, having lost only once in their last ten Premier League matches at the Etihad.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, are enjoying a remarkable start to the season. The Cherries sit second after a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest extended their unbeaten run to eight league games. Softfootball highlighted Guardiola’s praise for Antoine Semenyo’s impact, as Bournemouth continue to impress under Andoni Iraola with an attacking style that has surprised many.

Team News
Manchester City received a major boost ahead of the fixture, as both Erling Haaland and Rodri have been passed fit. Guardiola confirmed in the press conference shared on the club’s official X account that the pair, who were injury doubts earlier in the week, will feature in the squad. Haaland leads the Golden Boot race with 11 goals this season, while Rodri’s return adds balance to midfield.

Possible Lineups
Man City (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Gonzalez; Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Savinho; Haaland.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo; Kroupi.

SoftFootball’s Prediction
City will be desperate to respond, and with Haaland and Rodri back, they should have enough quality to edge a spirited Bournemouth. The visitors will pose a threat, but City’s home form is difficult to ignore.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Bournemouth.

Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has spoken out on the transfer speculation in the news at the moment after his superb form in the Premier League.

The Ghana international has started the season with six goals and three assists in nine Premier League games, making him one of the most in-form attacking players in the country.

Only Erling Haaland has more goals than Semenyo, so it’s not surprising to see the 25-year-old linked with Liverpool by the likes of iNews and Football Insider.

There has also been a big claim made by Indy Kaila in the last couple of days, with the journalist stating that Liverpool will submit a bid for Semenyo…

Exclusive @LFC news ?

??Real Madrid to bid for Alexis Mac Allister in January

?Liverpool want to sign 2 elite midfielders

??Marc Guéhi ?? set on @LFC

?Liverpool believe Adam Wharton wants to join them

? Antoine Semenyo bid will be submitted by @LFC

? All above is… pic.twitter.com/v7NZPDIP90

— indykaila News (@indykaila) October 30, 2025

Still, it seems Semenyo himself isn’t letting the frequent rumours affect him too much.

Antoine Semenyo responds to transfer speculation

Speaking to Sky Sports, Semenyo insisted he was happy to stay at Bournemouth this summer even when the club sold some of their other key players.

Meanwhile, it seems Semenyo is also not letting the rumours get to him, as he has made it clear he tries his best to just stay in the present moment.

“I don’t think about it too much. I try to stay present as much as I can. You see the news all the time, I see it as well, I’m not oblivious, but I try to keep focused,” he said.

“I’m enjoying my football here. If I’m not scoring goals, all of that goes away. I try to stay present, do the best I can for the team, score goals and whatever happens in the future happens.

“When they [his former team-mates] all left [in the summer], there was a lot of interest and back and forth with the club.

“But I knew in my head that the manager’s got something up his sleeve this year. How we finished off the season last year was so good and we could continue, especially with the players we’ve bought in as well.

“I wasn’t too sure at the start but we’ve kicked on like a house on fire. I’m glad I committed to staying here because I’m enjoying every moment.”

Should Liverpool sign Antoine Semenyo to replace Mohamed Salah?

There’s no doubt Liverpool have hit a real rough patch recently, with Arne Slot’s side on a worrying run of six defeats from their last seven games.

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One big worry is that Mohamed Salah looks nowhere near as good as he did last season, so there could be room for Semenyo to come in and replace him.

Semenyo looks like he has the qualities to make it at an elite club, so if LFC don’t make a move for him soon, then one of their rivals surely will.

The post “In my head…” – Liverpool target opens up on his current thinking amid transfer speculation appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Verdict: Both teams to score Best odds: 4/6 Bookmaker: Betfair At the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Manchester City will welcome high-flying Bournemouth in a meeting that few would have predicted to be a top-five showdown. Pep Guardiola’s side, sitting fifth, are under pressure after a damaging defeat to Aston Villa, while Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth arrive […]

The post Prediction: Manchester City vs Bournemouth appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Prediction: Manchester City vs Bournemouth appeared first on Soccer News.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has showered praise on Bournemouth’s in-form winger Antoine Semenyo, calling him an extraordinary player ahead of their Premier League showdown. The Spaniard’s remarks, as posted by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account, highlight how far the Ghanaian forward has come this season, emerging as one of the most influential players in the league.

Guardiola’s comments follow a string of impressive displays, including his brace in the 3-1 win over Fulham and another dominant showing in the 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest as reported by Softfootball, as these performances have propelled Bournemouth into the top four. During his pre-match press conference, Guardiola was asked about the threats his side might face, and he didn’t hesitate to single out the Ghanaian international.

Guardiola said:

The way Bournemouth play suits him perfectly. He’s an extraordinary player.

Such open admiration from one of football’s most meticulous tacticians underscores Semenyo’s growing reputation. Guardiola’s acknowledgement adds to the chorus of praise surrounding the winger’s all-round brilliance this season. Semenyo’s rise under Andoni Iraola has been no fluke. The 25-year-old fits perfectly into Bournemouth’s aggressive, high-pressing and counter-attacking style.

His pace, strength, and sharp instincts have been crucial in quick transitions — the kind of moments that unsettle even elite defences. Statistically, Semenyo has been electric this season: six goals, three assists, and direct involvement in 81.8 per cent of Bournemouth’s 11 league goals. He’s also the fastest player in the squad, clocking 34.2 km/h and making 152 sprints — numbers that place him among the Premier League’s elite in intensity and output.

What sets him apart is his two-footedness. Out of 17 shots this season, eight came from his right foot, eight from his left, and one from a header. His six goals are split evenly, making him unpredictable in front of goal. He also leads Bournemouth in ball-carry distance (13.7 metres per carry), often launching attacks from deep—a key reason Iraola’s side has scored four goals directly from fast breaks, the most in the league.

Guardiola himself noted that:

Everyone can beat everyone… it’s good for the spectators

Though facing a player like Semenyo in such open games is far from simple. Semenyo’s influence extends beyond club level. His recent form for Ghana has been equally vital in their World Cup qualification push against Cape Verde, where he and Mohammed Kudus have led the Black Stars’ frontline with power and flair.

Transfer interest is growing from top clubs like Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Tottenham, but the forward remains grounded. Having signed a five-year deal in the summer, he’s committed to Bournemouth for now. The numbers, though, speak for themselves — and now, even Pep Guardiola has joined the list of admirers. For Bournemouth fans, Semenyo isn’t just a rising star; he’s the symbol of their best-ever Premier League start.

Liverpool will reportedly submit a bid for the transfer of Bournemouth’s in-form attacking star Antoine Semenyo.

The Reds had a busy summer bringing in big names like Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, and it seems they’re not done yet.

According to journalist Indy Kaila, Liverpool are now expected to keep on targeting big names in the next two windows.

Semenyo is one of those, as per Kaila’s post on X below, and it’s certainly not surprising to see the exciting Ghana international attracting interest from bigger clubs like Liverpool after his superb recent form in the Premier League…

Exclusive @LFC news ?

??Real Madrid to bid for Alexis Mac Allister in January

?Liverpool want to sign 2 elite midfielders

??Marc Guéhi ?? set on @LFC

?Liverpool believe Adam Wharton wants to join them

? Antoine Semenyo bid will be submitted by @LFC

? All above is… pic.twitter.com/v7NZPDIP90

— indykaila News (@indykaila) October 30, 2025

It’s not entirely clear if the Semenyo bid will come in January or next summer, but it seems the 25-year-old is a key part of Liverpool’s plans for the next two windows.

Antoine Semenyo transfer looks hugely important for Liverpool after Mohamed Salah’s dip in form

Just a few months ago it would perhaps have been tricky to see Semenyo fitting in at Liverpool due to so much competition for places in Arne Slot’s front three.

Still, it’s been a poor start to the season for LFC, and Mohamed Salah’s dramatic dip in form is a particular concern.

The Egypt international was unplayable for so much of last season, but he’s now struggling for confidence and has only three goals and two assists in the league so far, in contrast to six goals and three assists for Semenyo…

Semenyo now looks like he could be an upgrade on Salah, and not just a long-term replacement for the ageing forward.

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It’s easy to imagine Semenyo coming in and making a big impact straight away to turn Liverpool into more of an attacking threat again.

Something certainly needs to change as soon as possible after an awful run of six defeats from the club’s last seven games in all competitions.

The post “Bid will be submitted” – Liverpool to launch exciting transfer move, says journalist appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sean Dyche makes his Premier League return on Sunday, 26 October 2025, as Nottingham Forest visit high-flying Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. It follows a dream start to life at the City Ground, where Forest claimed a 2–0 win over Porto in the Europa League — their first victory since August, as reported by Softfootball. It was also their first European triumph since 1995, a moment Dyche later described as one he had waited a long time to experience.

The 54-year-old’s appointment, as reported by Softfootball, makes him Forest’s third permanent manager this season. Now he faces the daunting task of lifting a side sitting in the relegation zone after four defeats in their last five league games.

Nottingham Forest, via their official X account, posted a video of the new manager discussing soaking in the “Mull of Kintyre” rendition and contrasts it with past playing struggles, underscoring football’s fleeting successes.

Watch the video below:

Bournemouth, meanwhile, continue to thrive under Andoni Iraola. The Cherries are fourth in the table with 15 points from eight matches (W4 D3 L1) and remain unbeaten in seven league outings. Their thrilling 3–3 draw at Crystal Palace last weekend saw 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi bag a brace, while Ryan Christie added the third before a late equaliser spoiled the party.

Team News

Evanilson (calf) misses out, David Brooks (hamstring) is doubtful, and Enes Ünal has returned to full training but won’t feature. For Forest, Chris Wood and Oleksandr Zinchenko are fitness doubts, while Ola Aina and Bakary Koné remain sidelined.

Possible Lineups

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo; Kroupi.
Nottingham Forest (5-3-2): Sels; Savona, Murillo, Morato, Milenkovic, Williams; Anderson, Sangare, Luiz; Gibbs-White, Wood.

Softfootball’s Prediction

Bournemouth 2–1 Nottingham Forest

Iraola’s men to edge it, though Dyche’s new-found resilience could make this tighter than expected.