Game Week 20 Predictions: Manchester City to beat West Ham

Manchester City hosts West Ham at the Etihad as the champions aim to build momentum, while the Hammers look to bounce back after a heavy defeat.

Manchester City must build on the win over Leicester with a solid performance against West Ham, they can't afford to slip up again. (Photo credit: Khel)

 Manchester City vs West Ham

Etihad Stadium

4:00 pm

Despite Manchester City’s win over Leicester City last time out, the champions still sit fourteen points off the log leaders but they closed in on the top four with Chelsea losing away at Ipswich.

It is still one win in so many games for Pep Guardiola’s side but you sense that they just need that one win to push themselves out of the doldrums, if that is the case, West Ham should be prepared to face an angry side on Saturday.

Speaking of the Hammers, they were indeed hammered at home by Liverpool in their last game of 2024 but then, it’s Liverpool, they’ve been swashbuckling and you can forgive anyone for coming under their moving train however, fans of West Ham won’t forgive Julien Lopetegui in a hurry.

West Ham’s run of four games without a defeat was halted by the humbling in the hands of the log leaders but they would hope to start another positive run when they visit the Etihad, they have seen teams win there recently, they will fancy their chances.

Manchester City saw Savinho score his first goal against the Foxes few days ago, they also saw Erling Haaland return to the score sheet with a fine header, they saw how things work better with Kevin De Bruyne in the hole, they will hope to deploy the same energy against West Ham.

Guardiola confirmed on Friday that Ederson is getting better but Stefan Ortega is expected to continue in goal while Ruben Diaz is certain to miss this one. John Stones is unavailable too but, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji are both available.

Thomas Soucek is back from suspension but the bad news for the hammers is the absence of Jarrod Bowen until February with a broken foot. The England winger will be a big miss for the visitors but, Mohammed Kudus and Cryscensio Summerville will both try to fill the void.

The Hammers must defend compactly if they don’t want to fall apart to City quickly. One goal typically unravels West Ham, they must avoid such situation even if they go down early. Manchester City is a little fragile right now, they can profit from their fragility.

Phil Foden is gradually getting into his groove, he needs to do more to help the City side while Jeremy Doku is another player who needs to up his game. The hosts are the favorites here but, can West Ham upset the odds?

Verdict: Manchester City to win.