Man City have started the 2024/25 season in typical fashion, picking up two comfortable wins and the Cityzens will be looking to make it nine points out of nine when they head to London to face West Ham United.
Manchester City have won their previous 11 Premier League games and against the Hammers, they have a near-perfect recent record. In their previous four meetings, City have scored 11 goals past West Ham while conceding just two.
The home side now has a new manager in the form of Julen Lopetegui so this is kind of a fresh start for them. Even though Man City are the overwhelming favourites to pick up a win on Saturday, Guardiola and his boys will still have to keep their guards up because this is just the third game of the new season.
Manchester City’s team news and injuries:
Oscar Bobb has fractured his leg and the 21-year-old is expected to be on the sidelines until January 2025.
Guardiola is going to revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation after using a three-man central defence against Ipswich Town. Ideally, Kyle Walker should come back into the starting XI, however, Pep Guardiola can also put Rico Lewis in that position.
Rodri got an extended summer break and he is yet to feature for Man City. However, at the weekend the midfielder will be in line to start his first game of the season. Mateo Kovacic picked up a minor knock during the second half against Ipswich but the injury is not serious and he will be fit to face West Ham United.
Rodri’s return will be a major boost for Manchester City because even though Rico Lewis has done a decent job in the defensive midfield position, the 19-year-old cannot be trusted against a physical West Ham United midfield.
Phil Foden missed the Ipswich win due to an illness but like Rodri and Mateo Kovacic, the England international will also be back on Saturday. City have brought back Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona but we don’t think the midfielder is going to get a start against the Hammers.
Summer signing Savinho has made an instant impact at Man City and the 20-year-old’s great start to the season clubbed with a change in formation means Bernardo Silva will have to move back to the bench.
Haaland has already scored four goals in the first two games of the season and Pep Guardiola will hope that the Norwegian international can shine at the London Stadium as well.
Man City predicted line up vs West Ham United:
Predicted Starting lineup(4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Savinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Doku; Erling Haaland.
