The defending Premier League champions Manchester City will host West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
Team Form
Manchester City
Yet another record was broken by the young superstar Erling Braut Haaland. On Sunday, he scored his 50th goal of the season, helping his team secure a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage.
Despite some defensive weaknesses, Man City has been performing exceptionally well across all fronts recently, especially in the Premier League. However, managing only two, they have struggled to keep clean sheets in their last 12 top-flight matches.
Despite this, Man City’s remarkable attacking prowess has allowed them to outscore their opponents consistently, and they will be confident heading into their next game against West Ham on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side will have the advantage of two games in hand after Arsenal clashes with Chelsea on Tuesday.
Man City PL Form: W W W W WĀ
West Ham United
It hasn’t been an easy few days for the Hammers, who had a confidence-boosting 4-0 win over Bournemouth last week but followed it up with consecutive defeats against Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
Their 2-1 loss at home against Liverpool last Wednesday was a contentious game, with manager David Moyes expressing frustration and feeling disrespected by VAR.
The loss was followed by a 4-3 defeat away to Crystal Palace last Saturday, making it two losses in a row for West Ham. However, the team now faces a challenging and crucial period in their season.
They will travel to face Man City on Wednesday, followed by a home game against Manchester United next weekend, and then their Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against AZ Alkmaar in just over a week.
West Ham PL Form: W D W L L
Squad Report
Manchester City
Good news for City fans as Nathan Ake, who had been out with a hamstring injury, could return to the matchday squad on Wednesday.
However, there’s a slight concern regarding Kevin De Bruyne, who missed the previous match against Fulham due to an unspecified injury. Unfortunately, the star midfielder has not participated in training yet, and his availability for the upcoming match against West Ham is uncertain.
West Ham United
Unfortunately, center-back Kurt Zouma suffered an ankle injury during the team’s defeat against Crystal Palace and had to be withdrawn in the first half. Manager David Moyes has confirmed that Zouma may have to sit out for a few weeks as he recovers from his injury.
Besides Zouma, Gianluca Scamacca is the only other player missing from the Hammers squad. He recently underwent knee surgery, so he will not be available for the team’s upcoming matches.
Manchester City’s expected starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Gundogan; Foden, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland
West Ham United’s expected starting lineup:
Fabianski; Coufal, Kehrer, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice, Paqueta; Bowen, Antonio
Head to Head
Man City has a good head-to-head record against West Ham United. Of the 118 matches played between the two teams, Man City has won 61, while West Ham United has emerged victorious in 38 matches. The remaining 19 games have ended in draws.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Wednesday, May 03
Time: 08:00 pm, UK Time
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Mancehster
Prediction
West Ham United will have their work cut out if they hope to keep Man City’s attack at bay. Man City’s attacking prowess this season has been a sight to behold, with their front line causing problems for almost every opposition they’ve faced.
