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Manchester City v West Ham: Premier League betting preview & free tips

Citizens should put off-field problems to one side against hapless Hammers

Pep Guardiola has pledged his allegiance to Manchester City, saying 'even if they put us in League Two, I will still be here'
Pep Guardiola has pledged his allegiance to Manchester City, saying 'even if they put us in League Two, I will still be here'Credit: Getty Images

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester City v West Ham in the Premier League.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 7.30pm Wednesday

Best bet

Manchester City to win & both teams to score
2pts 13-10 Coral
Back this tip with Coral

Team news

Manchester City
Oleksandr Zinchenko is suspended but Benjamin Mendy could take his place in the starting line-up and Aymeric Laporte could return. Raheem Sterling (hamstring) is out, along with long-term absentee Leroy Sane.

West Ham
Felipe Anderson could play some part and Jarrod Bowen may make his debut but Jack Wilshere is likely to be out for the rest of the season with a hernia problem.

Match preview

Manchester City have been hit by a financial bombshell this week but while off-field problems have cast doubt over the future of some of the club's key figures, it should be business as usual on the pitch against West Ham.

The Citizens were hit with a two-season ban from European competitions by Uefa, subject to appeal, prompting fears of a summer exodus.

But Pep Guardiola has pledged his allegiance to the club, saying "even if they put us in League Two, I will still be here" and the Spaniard is 1-5 with Sky Bet to be in charge for the first game of the 2020-21 season.

City are still a group of top professionals and although the lingering ban and distraction of next week's Champions League contest renders them a touch vulnerable, West Ham are unlikely to be able to capitalise.

The Hammers are winless in six games in all competitions since their brief honeymoon phase under David Moyes and are 6-4 for the drop, likely owing to a fixture list featuring City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Wolves, Tottenham and Manchester United before the end of the season.

Storm Ciara, which postponed this game earlier this month, has done West Ham one favour, though, with Felipe Anderson potentially involved this time around having not been available when the match was originally due to be played. This is likely to be striker Jarrod Bowen's debut as well.

That adds something to a stuttering West Ham attack, who have scored 30 goals in 25 league matches, and they should fancy their chances of breaching City, who have kept only four clean sheets in their 12 home league assignments.

Guardiola's men won the reverse fixture 5-0 on the opening day of season and have netted 31 times at the Etihad in the league this term. It is hard to look past them claiming maximum points, even in the absence of Raheem Sterling.

Riyad Mahrez is a capable deputy and the Algerian can help his side extend a run of eight successive wins against the London club in all competitions.

Key stat

West Ham have won only three of their 12 Premier League away games.


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