{"id":748510,"date":"2026-08-24T20:12:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T20:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/748510\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T20:12:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T20:12:16","slug":"fpl-notes-guehi-oop-haaland-blank-anderson-injury-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/748510\/","title":{"rendered":"FPL notes: Guehi OOP, Haaland blank + Anderson injury update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester City needed two late goals to beat Bournemouth 2-1 in Enzo Maresca\u2019s first Premier League match in charge.<\/p>\n

The hosts generated 2.36 expected goals (xG), while Bournemouth posed a threat on the counter but managed only one big chance.<\/p>\n

From an FPL perspective, there was plenty to unpack: Marc Guehi (\u00a36.0m) playing in midfield, Erling Haaland (\u00a315.5m) blanking despite several openings, Rayan Cherki (\u00a37.5m) transforming the game from the bench and an injury scare for Elliot Anderson (\u00a36.5m).<\/p>\n

Here are our Scout Notes from the Etihad.<\/p>\n

GUEHI \u2018OOP\u2019 IN MIDFIELD<\/p>\n

The biggest tactical surprise came in central midfield.<\/p>\n

Despite being listed as a defender in FPL, Marc Guehi started alongside Elliot Anderson, with Maresca using the former Crystal Palace centre-back in an unfamiliar midfield role.<\/p>\n

\"Guehi<\/p>\n

Above: Guehi\u2019s average touch map<\/p>\n

And Guehi wasn\u2019t simply sitting in front of the defence.<\/p>\n

He regularly found himself in advanced positions and could easily have scored twice.<\/p>\n

Anderson\u2019s corner presented the clearest first-half opportunity, finding Guehi completely unmarked around six yards out. With the goal at his mercy, however, the defender somehow headed wide.<\/p>\n

He made amends late on. Cherki delivered another inviting corner and Guehi powered his header home to equalise.<\/p>\n

Maresca revealed afterwards that he had considered the positional switch before Guehi even joined City:<\/p>\n

\u201cEven Marc Guehi has never played as a midfielder, today he was very good, so I am happy with the effort from the players.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes you visualise things. I know Marc from Palace and I always thought he could play as a midfielder because he is very good. So we tried it for a few days and I think he was quite good.\u201d \u2013 Enzo Maresca<\/p>\n

Guehi himself sounded just as surprised by the role.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo was I. It was just an idea the manager had, we worked on it in the week. We\u2019re trying different things, trying different solutions for the team. I\u2019m glad today it paid off in the end.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do whatever the team asks me to do. It\u2019s for the team.\u201d \u2013 Marc Guehi<\/p>\n

The obvious caveat is how long the experiment lasts. City are still working on midfield solutions, so his role remains one to monitor rather than something we can assume will continue.<\/p>\n

O\u2019REILLY ADVANCED + ANDERSON INJURY UPDATE<\/p>\n

\"Guehi<\/p>\n

There was another interesting tactical deployment further forward.<\/p>\n

Nico O\u2019Reilly (\u00a36.5m) started in an advanced role and created Haaland\u2019s best early opening with a superb cross from the left.<\/p>\n

Like Anderson, however, O\u2019Reilly departed shortly after the hour mark.<\/p>\n

Maresca\u2019s post-match comments help explain the relatively early withdrawals. Several City players only returned around 10 days ago following the World Cup and remain short of full match fitness.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday we had four or five players that arrived very late 10 days ago. For them it is still almost pre-season. Erling [Haaland] is one of them, Elliot [Anderson], Marc Guehi, Nico O\u2019Reilly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s complicated for them but they have done a huge effort to help the team.\u201d \u2013 Enzo Maresca<\/p>\n

Maresca subsequently played down Anderson\u2019s problem, confirming that cramp caused the issue rather than anything more serious.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was cramp. We still have four or five players that are not 100 per cent and he is one of them.\u201d \u2013 Enzo Maresca<\/p>\n

The City boss was also pleased with Anderson\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was very good. Elliot was very good on the ball, very good off the ball.
\u201cI have a good feeling with Elliot that he\u2019s going to be better and better.\u201d \u2013 Enzo Maresca<\/p>\n

So, for now at least, there doesn\u2019t appear to be a major injury concern.<\/p>\n

HAALAND BLANKS \u2013 BUT THE CHANCES WERE THERE<\/p>\n

For the first time in his Manchester City career, Haaland blanked in Gameweek 1.<\/p>\n

That shouldn\u2019t necessarily alarm owners. The Norwegian still registered five attempts, accumulated 0.85 xG and missed one Opta-defined big chance.<\/p>\n

\"Guehi<\/p>\n

Above: Haaland\u2019s shot map<\/p>\n

His clearest opening arrived when O\u2019Reilly burst down the left and delivered an excellent cross into the six-yard box. Haaland misjudged the flight and failed to make meaningful contact.<\/p>\n

He later glanced another header towards goal, forcing Djordje Petrovic into a save.<\/p>\n

So, while the FPL return wasn\u2019t there, the opportunities certainly were.<\/p>\n

Haaland\u2019s 0.85 xG also accounted for over a third of City\u2019s overall 2.36 xG.<\/p>\n

The other consideration is fitness. Maresca included Haaland among the players who only returned around 10 days ago, effectively describing this stage as an extension of pre-season for several members of his squad.<\/p>\n

A little rust, then, but enough goal threat to offer encouragement ahead of Gameweek 2.<\/p>\n

CHERKI IMPACT + FODEN BRIGHT<\/p>\n

Cherki gave Enzo Maresca plenty to think about after making a huge impact from the bench.<\/p>\n

Despite playing only 27 minutes, the midfielder supplied two assists and created four chances.<\/p>\n

His first return came from the corner that Guehi headed home, before Cherki threaded a pass through for Gvardiol deep into stoppage time. The Croatian\u2019s finish survived a VAR check to give City all three points.<\/p>\n

\"Guehi<\/p>\n

Above: Manchester City players sorted by chances created (CC) v Bournemouth<\/p>\n

Maresca praised the impact of his substitutes afterwards:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what we need. We need the first XI starting in the right way and we need the other five changes going in the right way. Today the five changes I think they were very good.\u201d \u2013 Enzo Maresca<\/p>\n

Phil Foden (\u00a37.0m), meanwhile, started on the right and produced some encouraging moments before coming off late on.<\/p>\n

He helped create Rico Lewis\u2019 (\u00a34.5m) early opportunity with a clever touch around the corner and looked one of City\u2019s brighter attackers.<\/p>\n

By contrast, Antoine Semenyo (\u00a38.5m) had a quieter afternoon against his former club. He registered a shot on target that Djordje Petrovic saved but otherwise struggled to make a significant attacking impact.<\/p>\n

Cherki\u2019s cameo adds another layer of competition to City\u2019s attacking positions. Four chances created in just 27 minutes strengthen his case for more involvement, with his Gameweek 2 role now one to watch.<\/p>\n

GVARDIOL SCORES FROM LEFT-BACK<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Josko Gvardiol (\u00a35.5m) started at left-back rather than centrally and ultimately delivered the winning goal.<\/p>\n

His attacking output before that point was limited, however.<\/p>\n

The Croatian didn\u2019t create a chance, although his willingness to get forward eventually paid off when Cherki slipped him through in stoppage time.<\/p>\n

The assistant initially raised the offside flag before VAR overturned the decision.<\/p>\n

On the opposite flank, Lewis started at right-back but departed after 56 minutes.<\/p>\n

There were ultimately no clean-sheet points on offer anyway, with Marcus Tavernier (\u00a36.0m) having already put Bournemouth ahead.<\/p>\n

BOURNEMOUTH DANGEROUS ON THE BREAK<\/p>\n

City dominated the underlying numbers but Bournemouth still caused problems on the counter.<\/p>\n

Tavernier\u2019s opener exposed a poor defensive sequence from the hosts, while Justin Kluivert (\u00a36.0m) later forced Gianluigi Donnarumma (\u00a35.5m) into a strong save.<\/p>\n

The visitors also created several situations where City looked vulnerable following turnovers.<\/p>\n

Still, Bournemouth finished with only one big chance, and Maresca felt his side gained greater control after the interval.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the second half they didn\u2019t have a shot on goal until the 80th minute so I think we deserved it.\u201d \u2013 Enzo Maresca<\/p>\n

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