Manchester City vs West Ham. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats and more

Manchester City FC will host West Ham United FC in the English Premier League 28th-tour match at Etihad Stadium. The fixture will take place on Thursday, May 4, beginning at 00:30 IST.

What can we expect this Thursday night? Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

Manchester City News & Current Form:

The Citizens are on the verge of an epic final. Josep Guardiola’s men can win three trophies in one season. The players reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, the Emirates FA Cup final, played with Arsenal FC and defeated their direct rivals 4 – 1. 

The championship race is now in the hands and feet of Guardiola’s team, who climbed to the top after beating Fulham FC 2 – 1. They are now one point ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand. A home win over West Ham is a must to extend their lead.

The Blues’ winning streak in the English league has extended to eight games, and it remains to be seen if anyone can stop them. City are particularly strong at home. The Citizens have a streak of 13 straight home wins, during which they have scored less than three goals only twice. Incidentally, Manchester City are the most prolific team in the top flight, having scored 84 goals in 32 appearances, that’s 2.63 goals per game on average.

In the last five EPL meetings, Manchester City have allowed themselves to concede, but this has had no effect on the outcome of the meetings. The opponents have scored strictly one goal each, to which Pep’s charges have responded with three or four, or at the very least two, as in the last round against Fulham.

It was noticeable that in many matches, Guardiola does not want to spend too much effort and his team does not rush to smash the opponents. This approach was more evident in the  matches with mid-table teams. On the other hand, the coach does not allow his men to relax in games against the Gunners and Liverpool FC.

Players of Manchester City – Jack Grealish and Phil Foden

Even if the Citizens lose control, they will be saved by Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has become a necessary cog in Guardiola’s previously lacking mechanism. The forward, who can score from any situation, is working at his best. His 50 goals in a season (the last one coming against Fulham) and repeating the record of 92 years ago say a lot.

“Winston Churchill was not even Prime Minister yet when the record was set, which was repeated today by Erling,”

was Pep Guardiola’s reaction to the striker’s achievement.

Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne missed the meeting with Fulham. The Belgian has a minor injury. However, there is a chance that he will be available for the match against West Ham. Be that as it may, City have a very long bench and Guardiola will surely find someone to replace the dropped player.

Man City will be without key defender Nathan Ake due to a knee injury.

West Ham News & Current Form: 

West Ham have failed this season and still haven’t secured a spot in the next season’s Premier League. They are only five points clear of the relegation zone. Two defeats in the last few games have made the stats a little worse for the Londoners, but on the bright side, the club has scored in 12 games in a row.  The interesting detail is that the Hammers have been doing much better away rather than at home matches.

Disgruntled West Ham coach David Moyes could face the wrath of the Football Association for suggesting that his team have been disrespected by officials in recent times. In addition, his charges have a grueling series of matches ahead of them that includes both Manchester City and Manchester United FC and the UEFA  Europa Conference League semi-finals.

Michail Antonio – top scorer of West Ham United FC

The latest setback was Saturday’s 3 – 4 defeat to Crystal Palace FC, their first away fiasco in the Premier League since scoring three goals. The team are still nervously looking over their shoulder towards the relegation zone despite winning two of their three away games in the league last month, but the Hammers have not moved well this season. The visitors have nine wins and seven draws in 33 rounds, which equates to 34 points and 15th position in the standings.

David Moyes’s side have been good offensively and have scored in eight successive fixtures, although they have had huge problems in the first half of the season. Michail Antonio has been the best player in the team, with one action each in his last three EPL games (2+1).

There have been rumors for much of the season that David Moyes will be sacked but the Scot has so far heroically kept his job.

“I know how football works and I know what can happen because of poor results. A coach should never feel completely safe but, at the same time, I have every confidence that the club management supports me. Again, I can’t say I feel one hundred percent safe but I keep working,”

says David Moyes when asked about his position at West Ham.

The visitors have defender Kurt Zouma and forward Gianluca Scamacca, who has a knee injury, injured.

Manchester City form guide: W-W-D-W-W-W

West Ham form guide: D-D-W-W-L-L

Manchester City vs West Ham Head-To-Head Record: 

• February 19, 2020: Manchester City 2 – 0 West Ham (Premier League);
• October 24, 2020: West Ham 1 – 1 Manchester City (Premier League);
• February 27, 2021: Manchester City 2 – 1 West Ham (Premier League);
• October 27, 2021: West Ham 0 – 0 Manchester City (League Cup);
• November 28, 2021: Manchester City 2 – 1 West Ham (Premier League);
• May 15, 2022: West Ham 2 – 2 Manchester City (Premier League);
• August 7, 2022: West Ham 0 – 2 Manchester City (Premier League).

Manchester City vs West Ham Predicted XI:

Manchester City possible starting lineup (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Gundogan; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland.

West Ham possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Kehrer, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice, Paqueta; Bowen, Antonio.

Statistical preview of the match Manchester City vs West Ham:

• City’s First XI average age is 27.9 yrs.
• West Ham’s First XI average age is 30.0 yrs.
• Manchester City have won their last 3 matches.
• Manchester City are unbeaten in 16 of their last 18 matches against this opponent.
• In the last 5 games West Ham are scoring an average of 2.80 goals per game.
• In their last 5 games West Ham conceded an average of 1.80 goals per game.
• Manchester City conceded an average of 0.80 goals per game in their last 5 games.
• Manchester City are scoring an average of 2.60 goals per game in their last 5 games.
• Man City have beaten West Ham in their last seven matches at home. The last defeat dates back to 2015.
• West Ham have a dreadful record at other venues. In the current campaign, the players have won just three times away from home (16 matches).
• The first-round match ended in Manchester City’s favor. The Citizens quietly defeated David Moyes’ side 2 – 0.
• City’s top scorers: Erling Haaland (50+8), Riyad Mahrez (15+9), Julian Alvarez (15+4), Phil Foden (13+6).
• The Hammers’ top scorers: Michail Antonio (12+4), Jarrod Bowen (10+6), Said Benrahma (8+4).

What has been said before the match:

The Citizens’ boss Pep Guardiola about the title race:

“I have no need to motivate my players. I don’t make speeches in the changing room. Sometimes I see that my players are too calm and then I may say a few words to bring the team to their senses. But that’s about it.”

“We have never discussed the race with Arsenal. My players already know why they are on the pitch. We want to win. We’re not tired, if you’re tired but have positive thoughts you’re not tired.”

“The mental strength will be there in that period, it’s the best period you can live. It’s one month and one more week for sure, then fight for two more weeks.”

“West Ham maybe didn’t do in the Premier League the season they expected like they have for the past two seasons, but David Moyes has been exceptional and that doesn’t mean the quality isn’t there. I will review their games against Liverpool and Arsenal a little bit and I will review the first game of the Premier League season.”

“The weapons are there, they are a good team, they didn’t have a good season like they expect but the weapons are there. I don’t have doubts that in one game anything can happen, that’s why we have to be absolutely ready.”

The Hammers’ coach David Moyes ahead of the game with the league leader:

“We know we are playing a very good team. We have been to the Etihad a lot and it has been hard to win. But we have given them some really good games when we have played them, and the games have been really close. I am hoping we can put up another good show.”

“Since the FIFA World Cup, our run of results has been much better. Recently, we have had a really good run but, obviously, the last week has been difficult with a couple of games that didn’t quite go our way.”

“But the players have been trying to get back to it.  A week ago, we had one of the best weeks we have had for a while, so we are just trying to build on that and continue that.”

“Our performance against Liverpool was good, but not so much against Palace. But overall, I have been pleased with how the players have been performing.”

“Every game is important. And there is a big battle at the bottom end of the league, so we are certainly not going to give up any game. And we have to go out there and put in the best performance we possibly can.”

Manchester City vs West Ham Prediction:

Despite their top-notch results and unstoppable attacking play, the Citizens’ defensive performance is not always up to scratch. In an 11-match unbeaten run, Man City have only managed to register a clean sheet twice – against Newcastle United (2-0) and Crystal Palace (1-0). In all other games, Guardiola’s side have conceded – even to relegation-threatened Leicester and last-placed Southampton, which is considered the second-to-last worst attacking team in the EPL (only 0.8 goals per 90). West Ham, meanwhile, have found their stride in the final third and have managed to find the back of the net in eight successive fixtures. Moreover, the Hammers have scored at least two goals in three of their last four games.

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Parimatch News staff prediction:

We say: Manchester City will not lose and both teams will score – Yes.