Game Week 17 Predictions: City to destroy West Ham at the Etihad

Manchester City could go top this weekend if they win against West Ham and Arsenal fails to match their result against Everton later on Satu...

Manchester City could go top this weekend if they win against West Ham and Arsenal fails to match their result against Everton later on Saturday. (Photo credit: BBC)

 Manchester City vs West Ham

Etihad Stadium

4:00pm

We’re spoilt for choice on Saturday as the English Premier League hits our screens. While this one at the Etihad is the top pick for 4pm, Brentford’s trip to Wolves is one fixture no one should sleep on.

Manchester City is expected to go top after this game; there are only two points between them and the Gunners going into this weekend, and, as the Gunners don’t play until later at night, three points from this fixture move the former champions above Arsenal, at least for a couple of hours.

This is fascinating to see. It doesn’t look like anyone will run away with the league title this year. We asked for scenes like this, and we can’t complain. No disrespect to the Hammers, but, in the real sense, do they have what it takes to stop City?

Nuno Espirito Santo is known for his defensive solidity. The Portuguese learnt under Jose Mourinho and has cut his teeth across Wolves, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and now West Ham. One thing that sounds too good to be true is that he has beaten Pep Guardiola’s City with all his previous clubs.

Manchester City is in a good place. They booked a place in the next round of the Carabao Cup already and will play Newcastle over two legs to advance to the final; that is one trophy in sight while also in the running for the Champions League trophy as well as the two other domestic ones.

Form favours the hosts. Pep Guardiola’s side has won each of their last five games, and replicating that feat against West Ham takes them to the top of the log for the first time since they won it two seasons ago; they never topped the league at any point last season and haven’t been able to do so this season.

For the Hammers, you reckon this is a free hit for them. They don’t have a lot of quality in their squad to contend with the Cityzens, and as things stand, it feels like it’s a question of by how many goals and not a question of if the Cityzens will come out on top.

The Africa Cup of Nations has taken Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Malick Diouf from the Hammers, while Manchester City will have to make do without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait Nouri. On the evidence of what we’ve seen so far, the Hammers will suffer more, as City haven’t really seen much of their two departed players this season.

Erling Haaland and Phil Foden are on top form. It was always a question of the Citizens getting goals from elsewhere; now they’re getting them from everywhere. Is it now their title to lose? Is there anything the Hammers can do to earn something from this game?

Verdict: City to hammer West Ham.