Manchester City Match Preview

After notching just ten wins in 2024, West Ham United will certainly hope that 2025 is a better year for them. They begin with a tough trip to The Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City this afternoon.

Following the 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool last Sunday, the Hammers will hope to bounce back and would love to bring the three points back to East London for their ever loyal travelling support but it is always a tough task to achieve that particular outcome here.

The opening three away matches of the 2015/16 season saw triumphs for the Irons come here, as well as The Emirates Stadium and Anfield and they might fancy their chances of a victory here, given that Josep Guardiola’s side have won only two of their last fourteen encounters.

Julen Lopetegui did help his side to success over Manchester United back on October 27, so you never know!!!

The East Londoners have not yet had the luxury of enjoying back-to-back wins this season but they will hope to inflict yet another defeat on the Citizens to follow up the victory over newly promoted Southampton on Boxing Day.

Both teams were in action six days ago, meaning that they have had the same amount of preparation but the hosts come into this game off the back of a 2-0 success over newly promoted Leicester City.

Tomáš Souček missed the match against Arne Slot’s men, due to a one-match ban, while Guido Rodríguez is also available after his own suspension and is set to be amongst the substitutes.

Jarrod Bowen was taken off after an hour of the defeat to the league leaders, due to a foot injury. However, closer diagnosis in the week revealed that the talismanic frontman could be out for up to a month.

Łukasz Fabiański was also missing from the starting line-up last time out and he will have to be assessed to determine whether he can win his place back from Alphonse Areola in goal.

The match is a 3pm kick-off and the referee is Michael Salisbury.