Game Week 5 Predictions: Manchester City to beat Westham

West Ham will test their top form against the champions on Saturday when both sides meet at the London Stadium. (Photo credit: GOAL)

 

West Ham vs. Manchester City

London Stadium

3:00pm

If there was one team that would hate the international break, it had to be West Ham. The Hammers were in top form before the break, and I hope the momentum hasn’t left them on resumption.

West Ham beat Luton Town away from home 2-1, with Jarrod Bowen once again proving to be the difference for the visitors, and that added to two back-to-back 3-1 wins over Chelsea and Brighton, which have shot them to second on the league table.

Manchester City is still the team to beat. They remain the only team with a 100% record; the champions have swept aside every opposition, but you can wonder if they have actually played any top sides in the four games they have played so far.

Manchester City will start the defence of their Champions League title in midweek as the elite tournament resumes and the Etihad will host Crvena Zvezda. The Hammers will also resume their Europa journey on Thursday.

John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, and Matteo Kovacic will all miss the game at the London Stadium, but Erling Haaland will be ready to go again after hitting a hattrick before the break, and he was also on target for Norway during the break.

Edson Alvarez had a delayed flight, but he’s still expected to feature against the champions while there are nibbles here and there to deal with due to the break. David Moyes is optimistic on the fitness front; he expects everyone to be ready.

James Ward Prowse has been a great addition to the Hammers, and with a goal and three assists so far since joining from Southampton, the champions would be wary of his set pieces. Bowen is another player to pay attention to.

For the champions, Jack Grealish won’t feature due to injury, but Phil Foden will be on hand to deal with the Hammers. Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva are also up there in terms of goal contributions. Kyle Walker signed a new deal at the Etihad, and he will feature as well.

Verdict: City to win