Manchester City kicks off this weekend’s Premier League action as they welcome West Ham United to the Etihad Stadium.
Victory will put Man City 13 points clear at the summit ahead of Manchester United, whereas West Ham will retain fourth with a win no matter how Chelsea fare on Sunday.
Team News
Nathan Ake is Man City’s only injury absentee with a muscle injury which has kept him ruled out since Boxing Day.
West Ham also have no fresh injury concerns as Arthur Masuaku, Andriy Yarmolenko (both knee) and Angelo Ogbonna (ankle) remain sidelined.
Stat Attack
- Man City are unbeaten in their last ten league meetings against West Ham (W8, D2).
- West Ham have won just one of their last five trips to the Etihad Stadium (W1, L4).
- City’s last three league goals in this fixture have all come from midfielders (Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden).
- Tomas Soucek has scored four goals in three of West Ham’s four away league games in 2021 (W3, D1).
- Pep Guardiola’s Citizens have kept clean sheets in their last six home league games (W6).
Prediction
Man City are still on a ferocious roll in all competitions although they have had to dig deep for their last two wins over Arsenal then Borussia Monchengladbach, although I am expecting a more comfortable performance here given their recent record in this fixture which has been dominant to say the least.
West Ham meanwhile can come into this fixture full of confidence after a clinical performance against Tottenham last Sunday, in which they made lightning starts to both halves but they definitely won’t get that here so I expect them to do more defending than they did at home in October.
Parking the bus therefore feels like an appropriate phrase to describe how West Ham should approach this match, especially because they must score with any chances that fall their way otherwise I can see a routine home win for City.
Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 West Ham
Result: Manchester City 2-1 West Ham