Premier League | Gameweek 20

Jan 4, 2025 at 3pm UK

Etihad Stadium

Man City vs West Ham

Match preview

Christmas cheer may have been in short supply in the blue half of Manchester, but there was reason for Pep Guardiola to celebrate a momentous occasion at the King Power Stadium as his 500th game in charge of Man City ended in a long overdue victory.

Savinho's first Premier League goal and a second-half header from Erling Haaland were enough to see off Ruud van Nistelrooy's Foxes, who were the victims of Man City's first win in five games in all competitions and their first away win in over two months.

The reigning champions had gone eight games without a win away from home before their triumph at the King Power, losing seven of those, but it was only their second win in 14 games in all competitions that lifted Guardiola's men back into the top six in the Premier League.

However, the Catalan coach has already extinguished any hopes of an epic title comeback, while Man City will have their work cut out if they are to retain their Champions League status for 2025-26, but a new year rarely brings anything other than three points for Saturday's hosts.

Indeed, the Citizens have won each of their last 12 league games to open the calendar year since their stunning defeat at Southampton in 2012, and of Guardiola's eight Premier League home matches against West Ham, his side have won all eight.

Having failed to win any of their last 18 Premier League matches against Man City, West Ham could start 2025 by writing an unwanted chapter in club history; they have never gone 19 games without a league win against a particular opponent.

The Irons also went 18 games without victory against Liverpool at the end of the 20th century, and the Merseyside giants coincidentally made light work of Julen Lopetegui's men on 29 December, with five different scorers getting involved.

Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold all contributed to the rout of the Hammers, who saw their four-match unbeaten run come to a humiliating end, although they remain eight points clear of the relegation zone.

However, the visitors' five goals at the hands of the league leaders means they have conceded the most goals in the Premier League in 2024 (79), and speaking of porous defences, West Ham have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 24 Premier League meetings with Man City.

The only time West Ham have gone 25 league games without a clean sheet against a particular opponent was against Sunderland in a 45-year spell from 1923 to 1968, when they thrashed the Black Cats 8-0 to end the run, and for all Man City's problems this season, a repeat of that eight-goal extravaganza at the Etihad is surely a far-fetched fantasy..

Recent Performance

Manchester City Premier League form:WDLLDW

Manchester City form (all competitions):DLLLDW

West Ham United Premier League form:LWDDWL

Team News

Three out and three in is the current state of the Man City medical room, with Guardiola guaranteed to be without Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg) and Ruben Dias (muscle) for the visit of the Irons.

However, Matheus Nunes (unspecified), John Stones (foot) and Ederson (unspecified) have not been ruled out and the Citizens also had Kyle Walker back from illness at the King Power Stadium, where he replaced Nathan Ake for the final 20 minutes.

With Salford City next up in the FA Cup on 11 January, Guardiola is likely to stick with his strongest possible side before making a number of changes for the third-round tie, meaning there will be no rest for the resurgent Haaland up front.

As for West Ham, their recent defeat at Liverpool was compounded by injury, with Jarrod Bowen coming off with what has now been confirmed to be a broken foot and ruled out for the foreseeable future.

On a more positive note, Michail Antonio has been released from hospital a few weeks after his horrific car accident, but it will be some time before he is cleared to play, with Niclas Fullkrug expected to spearhead the visitors' attack.

Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez are also in contention to return after suspension, while Lukasz Fabianski remains sidelined with a concussion sustained in the win over Southampton.

Possible starting lineup

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic; Foden, Silva, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland

West Ham United possible starting lineup:

Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Soucek, Rodriguez; Kudus, Paqueta, Summerville; Fullkrug