Pep Guardiola relishing the fresh problem facing Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal

Pep Guardiola is enjoying the unpredictable nature of this season's Premier League with the likes of Bournemouth and Sunderland challenging the elite of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Pep Guardiola has lauded the unpredictable nature of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City's game with Bournemouth this weekend.

The Cherries head to the Etihad above City in the table after a fine start to the season, while newly-promoted Sunderland sit fourth. This is the first time since 1992 that the top four at this stage of a campaign does not include City, Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool.

And while Guardiola would obviously love the Blues to be clear at the top, he is relishing the new-look top flight and the competitive nature of a division where every team has lost at least once.

The City chief drew a parallel with the NBA, a league he follows closely, which has had different winners in each of the last seven seasons. Guardiola believes the unpredictable nature of the top flight offers more entertainment for supporters and improves the Premier League product.

“I remember when I was in Munich or Barcelona, I always heard the rumours that in England everyone could beat everyone, I always had that sense,” Guardiola said.

“Maybe Liverpool and ourselves in the past changed that dynamic because we were so consistent in terms of points and arriving every season with 90, 90, 90 points, close to 100 points.

“But, I think the Premier League has always been like this, all the teams can beat each other, it is good.

“At some point like NBA, there is not a dominant team in the last four or five or six years, there is always one different team and everyone can beat everyone.

“I think for the spectator and for the show of the Premier League it is really, really good.”

And while the traditional big six are all currently in the top nine, Bournemouth are an example of a relative Premier League newcomer gatecrashing the upper echelons of the table.

Andoni Iraola's side have lost only just one league game this season despite losing several key players in the summer when first choice stars Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Dango Ouattara all departed.

“It (shows) how co-ordinated they are with the sporting director, the manager, the players with a clear philosophy that doesn’t change,” Guardiola said of Bournemouth.

“The players change a lot of things but it is impressive when you lose three or four from the back four to PSG, Real Madrid and Liverpool and you reinvest in the team with new players. There is a lot of good work behind (the scenes).”