Manchester City Match Preview

West Ham United haven’t won a game on the last day of the season since May 2021 and they face another tough test to end the 2023/24 campaign, as they travel to The Etihad Stadium this afternoon.

It would be fair to say that the Hammers have had a better record on the road this term than last, as they have already won seven matches. Trying to break the Citizens’ unbeaten home record will be hard but let’s not forget, they achieved a first ever win at Brighton and Hove Albion, as well as victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

The last time David Moyes led the Hammers to all three points on the road was back on 6 April when they came from behind to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1. However, they have gone on to concede ten goals in the two games that followed the Molineux success. A 5-2 defeat at Crystal Palace and a 5-0 swamping at Chelsea.

Even though Josep Guardiola’s men go into the game top of the Premier League table, they are just two points ahead of the second-placed Gunners. With it currently being such a tight situation, the hosts know nothing but a win will do if they are to claim a unprecedented fourth straight title.

Manchester City suffered defeat in their last match of the 2022/23 campaign as they lost 1-0 at Brentford. Can history repeat itself here. The Irons did produce a 2-1 triumph on this ground back in 2015 when they were under the stewardship of Slaven Bilić, so you never know!!! If the visitors can achieve the unthinkable, then they will give Moyes the perfect leaving present as it will be his first ever win here in what has been a long-established managerial career.

An excellent start to the season saw the East Londoners pick up ten points out of a possible twelve. That was before Guardiola’s men went to Stratford on September 16 and went back to the North West with maximum points despite the fact that West Ham took the lead that day.

Whilst the East Londoners have had a full week to prepare for this game, they will be hoping that their hosts are still recovering from their visit to The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just five days earlier.

Edson Álvarez is pushing to be restored to the starting line-up after missing out on selection at home to newly-promoted Luton Town eight days ago, while Jarrod Bowen is keen to break a club record for most top-flight goals in a season.

Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos may be fit enough to make the matchday squad but one player that will not feature is Kalvin Phillips. Not only does he have a calf injury but is also ineligible to be involved against his parent club.

The action gets underway at 4pm and it is one of three matches that will be screened by Sky Sports with live coverage available from 3pm. John Brooks is the man in the middle for this encounter.