Premier League title-chasing Manchester City face relegation-battling West Ham in a huge encounter affecting both ends of the table.
Victory would put Man City top for at least a few hours with Arsenal not in action until late evening at Everton.
West Ham could move out of the relegation zone for at least a few hours if they win by three goals or more.
Team News
Oscar Bobb is ruled out for Man City after he suffered a hamstring injury in their 2-0 Carabao Cup Quarter-Final victory at home to Brentford.
Jeremy Doku (leg), Rayan Ait-Nouri, Omar Marmoush (both international duty), John Stones (thigh), Mateo Kovacic (foot) and Rodri (hamstring) remain sidelined.
West Ham will be without El Hadji Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka due to international duty at Africa Cup of Nations.
Niclas Fullkrug (knock) is available but Lukasz Fabianski (back) remains absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host West Ham at Etihad Stadium on Saturday 20 December at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City are unbeaten in their last 19 league meetings against West Ham (W16, D3).
- West Ham have lost their last nine league visits to Man City (L9).
- Phil Foden has scored four goals in City’s last three home matches against West Ham (W3).
- Foden has scored six goals in City’s last four league matches (W4).
- West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen is looking to score in three consecutive league games for the first time since a four-match run in May 2025.
Prediction
Having clinically dispatched Brentford in a dominant midweek performance after their ruthless smash-and-grab league display at Crystal Palace last Sunday, Man City have demonstrated that they’re a threat regardless of whether they control the game or not but I expect them to dominate this.
West Ham meanwhile have little chance here against an in-form City unless they strike first like they twice did against Aston Villa, yet their defensive fragilities were their downfall and now without Wan-Bissaka plus Diouf I can see this being a long afternoon for the Hammers if don’t tighten up quickly.
In fact my instinct is that this will be a comfortable one-sided game.
Prediction: Man City 3-0 West Ham
Result: Man City 3-0 West Ham
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