Manchester City will host West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium as they return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon looking to continue their strong run of form.
Pep Guardiola’s side have gathered momentum after a difficult spell earlier in the season, while the visitors arrive in Manchester searching for answers as they battle to escape the relegation zone.
The fixture represents a sharp contrast in confidence and direction. City are chasing a fifth straight league win, while West Ham are attempting to halt a slide that has left them inside the bottom three with Christmas approaching.
Last time, Manchester City hosted West Ham United, Pep Guardiola’s side produced a dominant display at home to secure a 4-1 victory. Erling Haaland was the standout performer on that occasion, scoring twice as the Cityzens asserted their authority.
That match has proved to be a familiar story in recent years. Manchester City have not lost a Premier League meeting with West Ham in 19 attempts, recording 16 wins and three draws during that run.
Even more striking is their recent scoring record against the London club, having netted at least three goals in each of the last five league meetings.
Only two teams in Premier League history have managed to win six consecutive matches against the same opponent while scoring three or more goals every time, underlining the scale of the challenge facing West Ham this weekend.
City’s current form suggests they will be confident of extending that sequence. Since a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Aston Villa in late October, Guardiola’s men have rediscovered their fluency.
They have won 10 of their last 12 matches across all competitions, losing only twice, and every one of those victories has seen them score at least twice.
That attacking consistency has helped steady a campaign that briefly appeared to wobble. With key players missing, City have still found ways to dominate possession, control games and overwhelm opponents through sustained pressure.
West Ham, by contrast, arrive in Manchester after another frustrating weekend. A 3-2 defeat at home to Aston Villa followed consecutive 1-1 draws against Manchester United and Brighton, results that offered moments of encouragement but little progress in the league table.
Those results have left the Hammers 18th, three points adrift of safety. A defeat on Saturday would guarantee they spend Christmas in the relegation zone, adding further pressure on head coach Nuno Espirito Santo as the season enters a demanding festive schedule.
Form, injuries and tactical decisions
Since Nuno’s appointment, West Ham’s league form has been inconsistent. Across 11 Premier League matches under the Portuguese coach, the club have collected two wins, four draws and five defeats. A current five-game winless run has stalled any attempt to climb the table, with defensive lapses and missed opportunities proving costly.
Away from home, however, West Ham have shown signs of resilience. They have drawn their last three Premier League away matches, twice taking the lead before being pegged back.
The club have not recorded four consecutive away draws in the league since a run stretching from November to January during the 1999-2000 season.
Those narrow margins highlight the challenge Nuno faces: how to turn competitive performances into points. At the Etihad, that task becomes significantly harder, particularly against a City side that dominates territory and limits opponents to brief counter-attacking opportunities.
On Saturday, Manchester City will host West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium without several first-team players. Oscar Bobb is the latest name on the injury list after picking up a hamstring issue in midweek against Brentford.
He joins Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku and John Stones on the sidelines, leaving Guardiola with limited options in certain areas of the pitch.
In addition, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri are unavailable as they are representing Egypt and Algeria respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations. Their absence slightly reduces Guardiola’s flexibility, particularly in wide areas, but City’s depth remains considerable.
West Ham also have selection concerns linked to the Africa Cup of Nations. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf are both away on international duty with Senegal and DR Congo respectively. Their absence affects the visitors defensively and may influence Nuno’s tactical approach.
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Niclas Fullkrug and Lukasz Fabianski are both nursing minor issues and will be assessed closer to kick-off. While neither problem is thought to be serious, late decisions may be required regarding their availability.
With Wan-Bissaka and Diouf unavailable, Nuno is considering whether to switch systems. A return to a back five is under discussion, with Kyle Walker-Peters and Oliver Scarles among the players being considered for wing-back roles.
That shape could provide additional protection against City’s wide threats, though it risks conceding control in midfield.
City, meanwhile, are expected to dominate possession and press high from the opening whistle. Even without several regular starters, Guardiola’s side have shown they can rotate effectively without losing their identity. Their ability to recycle the ball quickly and stretch opponents horizontally has been key to recent victories.
Man City and West Ham predicted line-up
Man City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Bernardo, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden; Haaland
West Ham United: Areola; Mavropanos, Todibo, Kilman; Walker-Peters, Magassa, Potts, Scarles; Paqueta, Fernandes; Bowen