Manchester City-West Ham is a match valid for the thirty-eighth day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 5 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
Manchester City has the title in its grasp. After beating Tottenham 2-0 in the midweek recovery, Pep Guardiola’s men are once again masters of their own destiny thanks to their two-point lead over Arsenal and in case of victory in the last round of the Premier League they would become champions of England for the fourth consecutive time.
How hard it was, however, to get the better of Spurs: leading only at the beginning of the second half with a goal by Haaland, the Cityzens threatened to concede the equalizing goal on several occasions, and if it hadn’t been for reserve goalkeeper Ortega – who took over midway through the second half from starter Ederson and was the author of at least two miracles, the one on Son being outstanding – things probably would have turned out differently. Guardiola could only breathe a sigh of relief after the double, also scored by the Norwegian slinger, came in the middle of the second half. What next? Obviously, it will be enough to settle the West Ham file, a team that has nothing more to ask from this league. An eventual draw, on the other hand, would complicate everything: Arsenal, in fact, is ahead in goal difference – the first discriminating factor in case of a tied finish – and if it prevails, as is likely, over the already saved Everton it would return incredibly ahead.
A misstep, however, appears almost impossible for a City side that has never lost in front of its home crowd and has collected, so far, 13 wins and 5 draws: only Liverpool has done better.
The Hammers next year will not participate in any international competition – they are ninth and can no longer join seventh-ranked Newcastle – but on the last day they ended their fast of wins by beating Luton Town 3-1 at London Stadium. The one with Manchester City will be David Moyes’ last appearance on the Londoners’ bench: taking his place will be Julen Lopetegui.
The prediction
West Ham hasn’t beaten Manchester City in regulation time since back in 2015-something must mean something. The Cityzens in the league have been winning uninterruptedly since April and are unlikely to stumble over a team that no longer has any concrete goals: yes, everything points to another triumph for Guardiola’s men in a match of at least three goals total. The second half will be more prolific than the first half.
The probable lineups for Manchester City-West Ham
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Akanji, Ruben Dias, Aké, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Foden; Haaland.
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Emerson Palmieri; Ward-Prowse, Soucek; Bowen, Paquetà, Kudus; Antonio.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
