Manchester City vs West Ham United Prediction: City can start 2025 with a bang

Manchester City got back to winning ways last time out, as they ended 2024 with a 2-0 away success at Leicester City. Erling Haaland was back amongst the goals as Pep Guardiola looks to take that positivity into 2025, after a difficult couple of months. 

They are down to sixth in the table, and 14 points away from league leaders Liverpool, so another title seems unlikely at this stage. However, a top four finish is important and they can close the gap on a misfiring Chelsea with three points when they host West Ham at 15:00 on Saturday. Read on for my Manchester City vs West Ham United predictions, featuring team news and betting tips. 

Team News

Manchester City were without Matheus Nunes, Ederson and John Stones for the win at Leicester, and all three could be in contention to return here after suffering only minor injuries. Stefan Ortega will continue in goal if Ederson does miss out while Nathan Ake was taken off after 70 minutes with another injury. 

He could miss this one, with Kyle Walker the most likely candidate to replace him, with Kevin De Bruyne likely to hold onto the captain’s armband. He will play in midfield with Phil Foden, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva as Haaland looks to get back amongst the goals. Ruben Dias, Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain out for the long-term. 

For West Ham, having been hammered 5-0 at home by Liverpool, changes may be expected. They are only without Lukasz Fabianski and Michail Antonio through injury so Julen Lopetegui has plenty of options, with Jean-Clair Tobido, Crycensio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug all coming off the bench last time out. 

Tobido could be in line to start having missed most of the season without injury, while Fullkrug could come into the team given Jarrod Bowen had to come off in the second half with an ankle issue. Emerson may come out of the team, or drop to the left-back position in a more traditional back four, having line up on the left side of midfield against Liverpool. 

Manchester City vs West Ham United Odds

Manchester City are 2/7 to win this game, giving them an implied win probability of 78%. West Ham are available at 7/1 to take three points while a draw can be backed at 5/1.

Over 2.5 goals is priced at 1/3 and has come in during 13 of Man City’s 19 games so far, while BTTS is 8/13. Haaland is the favourite to score first at 12/5 having scored 14 goals in 19 matches in 2024/25. 

Man City to win to nil @ 6/4

I will go for the home side to win this game to nil as my first selection. I don’t think they are at the heights we have seen in recent years, and they won’t win the Premier League title, but they can start to win matches as we head into 2025. They beat Leicester to nil and should have gained some confidence from that, so I think they can do the same against West Ham. 

The Hammers were hammered by Liverpool last time out and without Bowen, may have lost their main attacking threat. Lopetegui hasn’t done enough to win the fans over and so I’m going to have to back them to lose this game to nil. City and Haaland can secure a decent home win here. 

Bet Builder - Man City win, Haaland and Foden to score, over 3.5 goals @ 7/2

I’ve also gone for a Bet Builder for this game. I’ll back a comfortable home win, and while I think West Ham won’t score, I will go for over 3.5 goals to extend our odds. I think they will struggle defensively and City can run riot, scoring goals at will to secure a big win to kick off 2025. 

I also believe we should pick out a couple of goalscorers, so I’ve plumped for Haaland and Foden to find the net. Haaland’s goal-rate has still been good this term, with 14 goals to his name already, while I just fancy Foden to get himself out of this slump with a goal here. 

Offers

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