Manchester City
04 Jan, 2025
16:00
West Ham
Manchester City has finally returned to winning ways after enduring an uncharacteristic five-game winless streak—an unusually long drought for a Guardiola-led side. This victory could be the catalyst for a positive run of results.
City's record against West Ham is impressive, remaining unbeaten in their last seven meetings, with six wins and one draw.
West Ham, on the other hand, has been highly inconsistent this season, often leaving fans guessing which version of the team will show up.
Their recent 0-5 home defeat to Liverpool was particularly humiliating, as they failed to register a single shot on target in 90 minutes.
When facing top-five teams in the league, West Ham's record is dismal.
They've suffered heavy defeats to Liverpool (0-5), Arsenal (2-5), Nottingham Forest (0-3), and Spurs (1-4). Their only bright spot was a surprising 2-0 away win against Newcastle.
Defensively, West Ham has been vulnerable, conceding goals in six of their last seven matches and allowing 13 goals in nine away games so far. Their shaky backline will undoubtedly be a concern heading into this match against City’s potent attack.
What we say
Manchester City to Win
We expect a motivated and focused Manchester City to put relentless pressure on West Ham's often-vulnerable defense. With patience and precision, City should find opportunities to exploit the gaps and break through.
West Ham, on the other hand, is likely to adopt a cautious approach, potentially deploying five defenders at the back and relying on counterattacks to threaten City. With players like Bowen and Kudus, they certainly have the quality to execute that strategy effectively. Unfortunately, Bowen's injury will sideline him for an extended period, leaving West Ham without one of their key players.
However, considering City's recent resurgence, their dominance in head-to-head encounters, and West Ham's recent struggles, we anticipate a comfortable victory for the home side in this matchup.
Home team lineup
| Player Name | Player Position |
| Ortega | GK |
| Lewis | RB |
| Akanji | CB |
| Ake | CB |
| Gvardiol | LB |
| Kovacic | DM |
| De Bruyne | CM |
| Silva | CM |
| Foden | RM |
| Savinho | LM |
| Haaland | CF |
Away team lineup
| Player Name | Player Position |
| Areola | GK |
| Coufal | RWB |
| Wan-Bissaka | RCB |
| Mavropanos | CB |
| Kilman | LCB |
| Emerson | LWB |
| Alvarez | CM |
| Soler | CM |
| Paqueta | RM |
| Kudus | LM |
| Bowen | CF |
Head to head
| Sat 01, 2025 | Manchester City | West Ham | 4 - 1 |
| Sat 08, 2024 | West Ham | Manchester City | 1 - 3 |
| Sun 05, 2024 | Manchester City | West Ham | 3 - 1 |
| Sat 09, 2023 | West Ham | Manchester City | 1 - 3 |