MY ACCOUNT
– Manchester City are unbeaten in 11 Premier League games
– West Ham have lost their last two league matches but scored in both
– Recommended bet: Manchester City to win and BTTS
Manchester City went top of the Premier League table with Sunday’s 2-1 win at Fulham and can further boost their title hopes against an ailing West Ham side on Wednesday.
While their status as top dogs may have changed by the time they start due to Arsenal playing against Chelsea on Tuesday, this match will by then be one of two games in hand and is a chance for them to improve their hopes of winning the treble.
West Ham also have European ambitions as they continue to pursue the Europa Conference League title. However, their priority is Premier League survival and a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool coupled with a 4-3 reverse at Crystal Palace has left them just four points above the relegation places.
Having failed to win the pair’s last 14 league meetings, they again look vulnerable against a rampant City side.
Manchester City vs West Ham (Wednesday, 8pm)
Team news
Nathan Ake could return for City after being absent for the last three games with a thigh injury, but Kevin De Bruyne is a doubt after missing the Fulham win due to a leg issue.
Kurt Zouma is expected to miss out for West Ham due to the ankle injury that forced him off against Palace, while Gianluca Scamacca is out after undergoing knee surgery in April.
The stats
City are unbeaten in 18 in all competitions since going down at Tottenham on February 5, a run that has included 10 wins from their last 11 league games, but they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five top-flight outings.
West Ham have scored on their last two trips to the Etihad but have not won at the ground since a 2-1 victory in September 2015.
They have also been in the goals in recent weeks, with a combined 18 scored in their last four league matches, which will only excite City’s Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian’s first two goals for City came in August’s reverse fixture, a 2-0 win for the champions and he has since gone on to net 50 so far this season, including 17 in his last 10 games in all competitions.
Prediction
The stats only point to the likelihood of a City win, especially when you add in that West Ham have only the 16th best away record, winning just three times on their travels.
With Manchester United, Brentford, Leeds and Leicester still to play, David Moyes’ men are far from safe but will take heart from both City’s defensive issues and the fact they have scored in their last eight in the league.
However, Haaland and co have been irresistible in recent months and it feels foolish to foresee anything other than them coming out on the right side of the scoreline.
Back Manchester City to win and both teams to score at 29/20 with LiveScore Bet.
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