It’s the first game of 2025 for these two sides as West Ham travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Premier League champions Manchester City.
After last week’s heavy home 5-0 defeat at the hands of table-toppers Liverpool, Julian Lopetegui will be hoping for a response from his side or his job could very well be at risk as we start the new year.
Whilst the hosts will be hoping to get only their third win in 15 against the Hammers after a comfortable 2-0 win away from home against Leicester City, and Pep Guardiola will be hoping that the New Year can provide a fresh start for the Citizens after their unusual poor run of form.
The hosts will be hoping to drag themselves closer to the Champions League places as they currently find themselves in 6th – a strange thing considering their four Premier League titles in a row.
Despite all the negativity after the Liverpool defeat, the Hammers have only lost one of their last five, and a win in Manchester could move them above London rivals Tottenham and put them firmly in mid-table
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Team News
The Blues most significant injury this season has to be Rodri, who injured his cruciate ligament in Manchester City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September. Ruben Dias and Oscar Bobb have also been ruled out for with long-term injuries.
John Stones, Ederson and Matheus Nunes are thought to be the closest to returning for the Citizens, and all three could play important roles for Guardiola’s side.
It was announced during the week that Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen has suffered a fractured foot and according to reports faces six weeks on the sideline. A huge blow to the Hammers, with Bowen notching 10 G/A this season alone.
Michail Antonio was discharged from the hospital on New Year’s Eve after crashing his career on the 7th December. In a statement on social media, he said: "Every year around this time, I'm asked what I'm grateful for, and every year I've struggled to find the right words. But this year, I know exactly what I'm grateful for: being alive."
In positive news, midfielders Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez are available for selection after serving a one-match ban for accumulating five yellow cards.
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Likely Line-Ups
Manchester City:
Ortega; Gvardiol, Ake, Akanji, Lewis, Kovacic, Doku, De Bruyne, Silva, Savinho, Haaland
West Ham:
Areola; Coufal, Todibo, Kilman, Wan Bissaka, Alvarez, Soucek, Soler, Paqueta, Kudus, Fullkrug.
Manchester City
Key Player: Savinho
The Brazilian winger notched his first City goal against Leicester, smashing in on the 21st minute to take the lead at the King Power Stadium.
The 20-year-old was signed from City Football Group-owned club Troyes in the Summer after spending the previous season on loan at another one of City Football Group’s clubs Girona for a reported 30.8 million pounds, and his direct style of play on the wing is likely to cause a threat against a West Ham side who have conceded a lot of goals from wide positions.
West Ham
Key Player: Tomas Soucek
Soucek returns to the side after picking up his fifth yellow card against Southampton and is likely to be Captain for this one due to the injury to Bowen in the Hammers hapless performance against Liverpool.
A goalscoring midfielder, Soucek has added four goals this season to bring his total number of goals in a West Ham shirt to 33 in 226 appearances for the club, and his qualities in both boxes, as well as his leadership qualities, will be needed for West Ham to come away with something at the Etihad Stadium.
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Match details
Where is the game being played?
The match will take place at The Etihad Stadium
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off will take place at 15:00 on Saturday 4th January 2025
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Where can I watch?
Unfortunately this match has not been selected for broadcasting, however, you can watch the highlights on the SkySports YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
Alternatively, written coverage will be available both pre-match and post-match here at VAVEL UK.
