City Get Back On Track Against Hammers
IIt’s fair to say that West Ham United didn’t enjoy 2024 and it ended on a bad note too with a 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool. They were hoping for a better start in 2025 but didn’t get it, as they lost 4-1 to Manchester City at The Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Julen Lopetegui made four changes from that reverse six days ago, as Vladimír Coufal and Jean-Clair Todibo came into defence to replace both Emerson Palmieri and Konstantinos Mavropanos, who were injured and dropped to the bench respectively. Niclas Füllkrug was handed a third start in four games. Tomáš Souček returned from suspension to regain his place in midfield and took the Captain’s armband in the absence of the injured Jarrod Bowen.
Despite their 2-0 win over newly-promoted Leicester City last time out, it was evident in the opening stages of this game that the home side weren’t exactly back to their free-flowing best. The trouble was, the Hammers couldn’t take advantage of the numerous chances that they were creating.
Mohammed Kudus was at the heart of the action, as he sent his opportunity into the side netting, before playing in Souček but the Czech international fired wide.
The Irons would have wished that they had taken one of their chances because Josep Guardiola’s men went in front after just ten minutes when Savinho’s cross took a deflection off Coufal and went past a helpless Alphonse Areola, who continued to deputise for the injured Łukasz Fabiański.
Referee Michael Salisbury awarded a free-kick to the hosts, despite Crysencio Summerville taking possession from Manuel Akanji. Had the whistle not blown, it would have left him with only home goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to beat!!!
After that disappointment, the Hammers could have equalised when Summerville linked up to great effect with Lucas Paquetá but unfortunately, when the ball dropped for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, he missed the target.
The game was swinging from to end-to-end by this point and it was then the turn of the home side to fashion an attacking move, as Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva combined. Fortunately though, Areola was in the right place to save with his feet.
The Frenchman came to his team’s rescue again just six minutes later when he kept out an effort from youngster Rico Lewis by tipping the ball over the bar.
West Ham had done well to keep a side like the Citizens down to one goal for so long however, just three minutes before half-time, they couldn’t prevent themselves from falling further behind. Trickery from Savinho allowed him to set up Haaland, who then headed in to seemingly put Guardiola’s team in control.
When referee Salisbury blew for the break, all connected with the hosts were hoping they would rediscover the defensive solidity that they are well known for.
Having made a good start to the match, the East Londoners began the second-half well too. After opening the scoring at the wrong end earlier in the match, Coufal almost made amends and claimed his first goal for the club but unfortunately, his high effort was tipped over by Ortega.
On fifty three minutes, Todibo picked up an injury, meaning Lopetegui was forced into his first change. The French loanee was replaced by Mavropanos.
Soon after the Greek defender had entered the fray, there was no way back for the visitors. Savinho was able to get in behind the Hammers’ defence and played the ball to Haaland, who got the better of Areola for a second time. In all honesty though, the goalkeeper should have perhaps done better!!!
It was evident by this point that the Citizens had ramped up the pressure and subsequently, the Irons were no longer able to cope. Just three minutes later, the majority inside the stadium were cheering again. Kevin De Bruyne picked up possession, following a misplaced pass from Kudus and passed to Phil Foden who made the points safe.
After Souček had seen his latest attempt easily gathered by Ortega, the midfielder did at least provide Füllkrug with an easy chance to score a consolation.
Lopetegui made another substitution just a minute later, as Luis Guilherme was introduced to take the place of Kudus.
Souček was trying all he could to get his name on the scoresheet and he was unlucky not to do so when another chance fell his way but again, he headed wide.
The Head-Coach gave Danny Ings opportunity in the final few minutes, as the former Burnley, Southampton, Liverpool and Aston Villa striker came on for Edson Álvarez. Unfortunately though he was unable to make a real impact and Salisbury then brought an end to a demoralising afternoon for those who had made the journey up from East London.
Domestic action now takes a short break and attention turns to the third-round of the Emirates FA Cup and for the Hammers, it’s a trip to Villa Park for an all Premier League tie with Aston Villa on Friday night.