The Matchday 17 Premier League fixture between Manchester City and West Ham will take place on December 20 at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City vs West Ham: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Manchester City
The team arrive at this fixture on the back of a four-match winning run in the league, scoring at least three goals in each of those games. In the last two rounds City recorded identical 3-0 victories over promoted sides who are pushing for a top-four finish — beating Sunderland at home and Crystal Palace away. Remarkably, Manchester City had not gone four Premier League matches unbeaten against this opponent since May. Those results have helped Pep Guardiola's side consolidate second place, now just two points behind leaders Arsenal. City are also the division's top scorers, averaging 2.4 goals per game.
- The club has won seven of their last nine Premier League matches.
- At least three goals have been scored in seven of Manchester City's last league games.
- City have scored three or more goals in six of their last seven home Premier League matches.
Projected Manchester City lineup (4-3-2-1)
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Joško Gvardiol, Niko O’Riley – Nico González, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders – Ryan Cherki, Phil Foden – Erling Haaland.
Defender John Stones, midfielders Mateo Kovačić and Rodri Hernández, and forward Jeremy Doku are sidelined through injury. Defender Ryan Ait-Nouri and forward Omar Marmoush have joined their national team camps.
West Ham
Nuno Espírito Santo's side have gone five Premier League matches without a win. That sequence has featured difficult opponents, however, and includes three draws alongside home defeats to Liverpool (0-2) and Aston Villa (2-3). Despite their winless run the Hammers have scored in seven of their last eight league games. They currently sit inside the relegation zone, but are only three points shy of 17th place and safety.
- Both teams scored in seven of West Ham's last eight league matches.
- The club are without a win in six away Premier League games (four draws, two defeats).
- Exactly two or three goals were scored in seven of the Hammers' last eight away league matches.
Projected West Ham lineup (4-3-1-2)
Alphonse Areola – Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El-Hadji Malick Diouf – Sungutu Magassa, Freddy Potts, Mateusz Fernandes – Lucas Paquetá – Krisencyo Summerville, Jarrod Bowen.
Goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański is out injured. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El-Hadji Malick Diouf have departed to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Referee: Paul Tierney (England)
Matches – 25 (Premier League, 2023/24–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including seconds) – 88;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.5;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 20%.
Match prediction Manchester City – West Ham
City have gone 19 straight Premier League meetings with this opponent without defeat, registering 16 wins and three draws in that run. In their last five head-to-heads Manchester City have scored at least three goals. Despite absences and the AFCON commitments affecting several players, Pep Guardiola's side should still beat the Londoners and register a high scoring output.
Manchester City have won their last seven home Premier League matches, scoring three or more goals in six of those and twice scoring two. West Ham rarely keep clean sheets away from home, so I expect them to concede again in this meeting. Erling Haaland should be among the scorers — he has netted nine goals in six Premier League meetings with West Ham, including two braces and a hat-trick.
My prediction – Manchester City individual total over 2.5
* For each team the starting XI shown is from its previous match in this competition.
