Man City vs West Ham Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Manchester City have the opportunity to spend a few hours, at least, sitting at the top-of-the-table as they take on West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – Universo
Man City preview: Chasing City
With Arsenal facing Everton on Saturday night, Manchester City can go top beforehand, should they defeat a struggling West Ham United at the Etihad, although, despite their good form ahead of this one, there is still something just slightly off and different.
That said, City eased to a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Brentford in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup in midweek, extending their current winning streak now to six matches across all competitions.
West Ham preview: Struggling Irons
Following the appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo, West Ham United have been much-improved but remain tucked in the bottom three and the relegation places.
The Hammers are three points adrift of safety ahead of this match day after their current winless run of form was extended to five matches due to a 3-2 defeat at home to Aston Villa last weekend.
Man City team news: Bobb out after liming off against Bees
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Gonzalez; Silva, Cherki, Foden, Savinho; Haaland
Unavailable: Stones (Injured), Ait-Nouri (International duty), Kovacic (Injured), Rodri (Injured), Marmoush (International duty), Doku (Injured), Bobb (Injured)
Questionable:
West Ham team news: AFCON frustration
West Ham have lost their full-backs due to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations as Aaron Wan-Bissaka is away on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo, while El Hadji Malick Diouf is now away with Senegal.
Experienced goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski remains sidelined for the visitors, while Germany international striker Niclas Fullkrug, expected to leave in January, is also a major doubt, albeit he did return to training on Thursday.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Areola; Mavropanos, Kilman, Todibo; Walker-Peters, Potts, Magassa, Scarles; Fernandes, Paqueta; Bowen
Unavailable: Fabianski (Injured), Wan-Bissaka (International duty), Diouf (International duty)
Questionable: Fullkrug (Fitness)
Man City vs West Ham prediction
Nuno Espirito Santo has a good record against Pep Guardiola, with victories for Spurs, Wolves and Forest against the former Barcelona boss. His West Ham side appear a significant level below those teams, though, albeit Jarrod Bowen should remain a threat on the counter-attack. The susceptibility of City’s back-line and transitional play in defence should mean West Ham create the odd chance in that regard, but the form of their front-line marks them out as firm favourites.
Man City vs West Ham tip: Man City to win & under 3.5 goals
