In-form Manchester City go try secure their fifth straight Premier League win when dem welcome struggling West Ham United to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
This na the first time both teams dey meet since January this year, when Erling Haaland score two goals for City 4-1 home win for league.
Match Preview
Since Man City lose narrowly 1-0 away to Aston Villa end of October, Pep Guardiola side don clearly turn corner. Dem don win 10 of their last 12 matches across all competitions (L2), and dem don score at least two goals in all those 10 wins.
The Citizens extend their winning run to six games after dem beat Brentford 2-0 for EFL Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night. That win come just three days after dem deliver strong 3-0 away victory against Crystal Palace for the Premier League.
City dey sit second for table, just two points behind leaders Arsenal. A win against West Ham fit take dem go top of the league, at least temporarily, before Arsenal play Everton later on Saturday night. City fit even remain top for Christmas if Arsenal fail collect three points.
Confidence go dey high for Etihad as Man City don win the most home games (12) and collect the most home points (36) in the Premier League since start of April. The only home loss during that period na 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Since then, City don win their last seven home games, last doing better between January and November 2023 when dem win 15 straight at home.
West Ham also represent one of City favourite opponents. The Citizens dey unbeaten in their last 19 Premier League games against the Hammers (W16 D3), winning their last five and scoring at least three goals in each one. Only Arsenal against Sunderland and Man United against Nottingham Forest don ever win six straight league games against an opponent while scoring three or more goals each time.
For West Ham, life no dey easy under head coach Nuno Espirito Santo. Since him arrival, the Hammers don record two wins, four draws and five defeats from 11 league matches. A five-game winless run (D3 L2) don keep dem deep inside relegation battle as Christmas dey approach.
After 1-1 draws against Manchester United and Brighton, West Ham lose 3-2 at home to Aston Villa last weekend. That result leave dem 18th for table, three points away from safety. If dem lose again on Saturday, dem go definitely spend Christmas inside relegation zone.
This go be the fifth time West Ham dey inside bottom three at Christmas in Premier League history. However, fans fit take small hope from past, as dem don survive relegation the two previous times dem no be bottom at Christmas (18th in 2006-07 and 19th in 2009-10).
West Ham travel to Etihad after drawing their last three away league matches, even though dem take the lead in two of those games before dem concede equaliser. The Hammers never draw four straight away league games since late 1999 to early 2000.
Nuno face serious task to end West Ham poor record against City. The Hammers don lose 15 of their last 16 away league games against the Citizens, conceding two or more goals in 13 of those matches. The only exception na 2-1 win back in September 2015 under Slaven Bilic.
Team News
Man City get injury worries as Oscar Bobb pick hamstring knock against Brentford in midweek. He join Rodri (hamstring), Mateo Kovacic (ankle/heel), Jeremy Doku and John Stones (both leg injuries) for sidelines.
Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri no go feature as dem dey away on international duty with Egypt and Algeria respectively for AFCON.
Guardiola expected to return to him strongest starting XI, which go include top scorer Erling Haaland. The Norwegian don score nine Premier League goals against West Ham, only scoring more against Wolves (10). If he score again, he go become the ninth player to score 10 or more league goals against the Hammers, and only the third non-English player to do am after Mohamed Salah and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Rayan Cherki continue to impress, after scoring brilliant opener against Brentford. He don assist five goals in his last four Premier League home games, despite playing just 223 minutes. Among players with over 250 minutes at one stadium, Cherki assisting every 56 minutes at the Etihad na the best ratio in Premier League history.
For West Ham, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf dey unavailable as dem dey away on AFCON duty with Senegal and DR Congo. Niclas Fullkrug (unspecified issue) and backup goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (back) go need late fitness checks.
Nuno fit consider switching to back five, with Kyle Walker-Peters and Oliver Scarles options for wing-back roles due to absences.
Max Kilman fit return to starting XI if dem use three-man defence, lining up with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo to shield goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Matheus Fernandes, who score after just 29 seconds against Villa, likely go keep him advanced midfield role alongside Lucas Paqueta. Captain Jarrod Bowen fit lead the line, with Callum Wilson possibly starting from bench.
Possible Lineups
Manchester City:
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Bernardo, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden; Haaland
West Ham United:
Areola; Mavropanos, Todibo, Kilman; Walker-Peters, Magassa, Potts, Scarles; Paqueta, Fernandes; Bowen
Prediction
Manchester City 3-0 West Ham United
E hard to see anything other than comfortable Man City win here. Guardiola side dey full of confidence, sharp in attack and very strong at home.
The Etihad don turn fortress again, and against a West Ham team struggling for form and belief, City should have no problem securing another convincing victory.
