Jeremy Doku stars as Manchester City thrash AFC Bournemouth 6-1

A three-goal flurry within seven first-half minutes sent Pep Guardiola’s charges on their way.

Jeremy Doku put Cherries to the sword in the first period, with a goal and then assists for Bernando Silva and Manuel Akanji.

He set up another in the second half for Phil Foden, before Cherries briefly reduced arrears through sub Luis Sinisterra.

Late on Doku teamed up with Silva again to restore City’s four-goal cushion.

Former Cherry Nathan Ake then added further gloss to the scoreline with a diving header.

Matters were made that much worse when Alex Scott was forced off moments before the break, the midfielder suffering a suspected knee injury.

There were three changes to the side narrowly edged out by Liverpool in the EFL Cup during midweek.

Adam Smith dropped to the bench, where he was joined by Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo.

In their stead came Milos Kerkez, Lloyd Kelly, and Marcus Tavernier, Iraola clearly planning a more conservative approach to deal with the prowess of the reigning champions.

If the personnel change was not indicative enough, the fact that Cherries sat deeper than usual highlighted that they were taking a pragmatic approach to the game.

It was a similar approach to the one deployed by Scott Parker in one of his final games in charge of Cherries at the start of last season, and in comparison, Iraola’s side lasted 12 minutes longer before conceding.

Doku had frequently asked questions of the Cherries backline by cutting in from the left, but this time the Belgian played a one-two with Rodri to allow him a shooting chance inside the area.

He curled his effort around Illia Zabarnyi, giving Andrei Radu no chance.

That sparked a goal-scoring streak for the hosts.

Doku was again involved, this time attacking Chris Mepham from the right of Cherries’ goal. He jinked past Mepham, before teeing up Silva to slot home City’s second.

Minutes later, it was three.

This time Doku tried his luck from outside the area, his effort pinging off the back of Akanji and flying past a rooted Radu.

The dreary afternoon became even more sombre for Cherries after Scott went down clutching his knee inside the City box after a coming together.

Immediately it became apparent that the Guernsey-born midfielder’s afternoon was over two minutes before the half-time whistle, Scott limping off down the tunnel.

There were signs of life for Cherries after the break, albeit largely stemming from a drop in intensity from City.

Dominic Solanke thought he had reduced the deficit when he tuck home from Ryan Christie’s cross, only for a VAR check to show that the Scot had received the ball in an offside position.

Cherries went close again through Solanke, the striker smacking the bar from inside the area.

But the next goal would be City’s, and to no one’s surprise, Doku was involved once more.

The winger set up Foden to fire home his fourth goal in four consecutive appearances against Cherries.

Cherries at least sent their fans home with something to smile about.

Right-back Max Aarons advanced down the right flank, before delivering a ball that substitute Sinisterra tucked past Ederson to restore some pride for the beleaguered visitors.

However, City would end the game with a five-goal cushion.

It was far too easy for Silva to ghost in at the back, skinning Kelly before lofting the ball over an already outstretched Radu.

Ex-AFCB defender Ake even got in the act in the closing stages, the centre-back stooping low to nod home his side’s sixth.

Cherries: Radu; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Mepham (Senesi, h-t), Kelly, Kerkez; Scott (Rothwell, 44), Christie, Billing (Semenyo, 71); Tavernier (Sinisterra, 71), Solanke (Kluivert, 85).

Unused subs: Travers (g/k), Smith, Brooks, Ouattara.

Booked: Billing.

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Stones (Lewis, 71) Ake, Akanji; Rodri (Phillips, 71), Kovacic, Silva (Bobb, 85), Doku; Haaland (Foden, h-t), Alvarez (Nunes, 71).

Unused subs: Ortega (g/k), Dias, Gvardiol, Grealish.

Referee: Craig Pawson.