Jeremy Doku stole the show
Jeremy Doku stole the match with a goal and four assists as Manchester City cruised to a 6-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday to record their fourth straight win in all competitions.
Despite starting with Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, it was the Belgian who took centre stage in the Etihad rout. Bernardo Silva bagged a brace, while Manuel Akanji, Phil Foden, and Nathan Ake also scored as City leapfrogged Tottenham to go top of the Premier League.
The electric Belgian winger played a one-two with Rodri on the half-hour mark before striking home for the opener. Soon afterward, he set up Bernardo Silva for the first of his two goals, drawing a defender and then picking out a pass for the Portuguese star to slide home, Eurosports reports.
A third arrived eight minutes before the break when Doku’s effort was deflected into the Bournemouth net by Manuel Akanji.
A fourth arrived just after the hour mark when Doku found Phil Foden in the box and he drove home before the Cherries had a period of dominance rewarded by Luis Sinisterra netting 16 minutes before the break.
As Bournemouth looked for more goals they were caught on the break as Doku sent a long ball forward for Silva and he beautifully dinked a finish over Andrei Radu.
A sixth came from former Cherry Nathan Ake when he dived to head home Oscar Bobb’s cross.
City go a point clear of Tottenham ahead of Ange Postecoglou’s side’s clash with Chelsea on Monday.
Watching Doku, it is hard to think of a potentially more dominant figure in the left-sided forward role in the Premier League since Thierry Henry. He shares with probably the Premier League’s best-ever player incredible pace, intricate footwork, physical strength, and unselfishness creating for his team-mates.
Jeremy Doku of Manchester City grabbed the Player of The Match Award. The bare facts show why he has to get this award. He scored one, had another deflected in, and set up the three other goals. He was even more impressive watching the way he dominated and demoralised whichever Bournemouth opponent was taking their turn to be matched one-on-one with him.
There is no player in the league full-backs would be less keen to come up against. The left-wing position is stacked in world football now with Kylian Mbappe, Vincius Junior and Rafael Leao but it may not be long before Doku is mentioned in this company. Jack Grealish will surely have to move to a central role if he is to remain a key figure at City, Doku will own the left flank for years to come.
