Manchester City Vs West Ham Preview: Prediction, Team News, Predicted Lineups, Streaming Sites

Manchester City aim to maintain pressure on league leaders Chelsea as they play hosts to West Ham on Sunday. It will be a vital game for the reigning English champions, knowing three points may give them the opportunity to potentially close the gap at the top, especially with the Blues facing a stern test against Manchester United on the same day.

West Ham, though, have been the surprise package of the season and are currently fourth in the Premier League table. They have claimed points against the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Leicester City this season while knocking Man City out of the Carabao Cup. The Hammers, though, fell to a narrow defeat to Wolves last time out and will be desperate to get back to winning ways this weekend.

Manchester City Vs West Ham Preview

Talking Tactics

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has no reason to tinker with his 4-3-3 formation that usually revolves around possession and fast build-up. There will be no exception this weekend, with one of the wingbacks in Joao Cancelo operating in an inverted role while the wide attackers are expected to play close to the touchline and offer width going forward.

West Ham

David Moyes, on the other hand, should persist with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has worked wonders for him so far. Their biggest strength lies in the central midfield as it is hard for the opposition to manoeuvre around the solid combination of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. The Hammers are likely to utilise their pace on the counter as well, boasting stars like Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen.

Team News

Manchester City

Manchester City will continue to miss out on the services of Kevin de Bruyne due to COVID-19. He joins Ferran Torres and Benjamin Mendy in Man City’s list of absentees. Other than them, the two wide attackers in Jack Grealish and Phil Foden remains doubts due to their respective fitness issues.

West Ham

West Ham won’t have to deal with any major injury worries heading into this game other than Angelo Ogbonna. The former Juventus defender is likely to be ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Silva, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling

West Ham: Fabianski; Johnson, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals; Antonio

Prediction

Manchester City 2-0 West Ham

Streaming Sites