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Analysis of the match between Man City and West Ham
There are plenty of reasons to expect a dominant victory for Manchester City over West Ham at the Etihad this weekend. Firstly, the head-to-head record strongly favors the hosts. The Hammers have lost 15 of their last 16 away Premier League matches against City, with the sole exception being a 2-1 win in September 2015, before Pep Guardiola took charge.
Throughout his managerial career, Guardiola has faced West Ham more often than any other opponent without ever losing, recording 17 wins and three draws in 20 matches. Notably, one of those draws ended in a penalty shootout defeat in the 2021/22 League Cup.
Moreover, Manchester City have beaten West Ham in each of their last five Premier League meetings, scoring at least three goals in every match. Only Arsenal against Sunderland and Manchester United against Nottingham Forest have previously achieved such a feat. Pep’s side now have a golden opportunity to match that record.
City are also unbeaten in their last 46 home league games against teams in the relegation zone, winning 42 and drawing four since a loss to Tottenham in November 2008. They have won their last 14 such matches with a staggering goal difference of 43-7.
Since early April, Manchester City have recorded the most home wins (12) and accumulated the most home points (36) in the Premier League. After their only defeat in that run against Spurs, they have won seven straight games at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, West Ham risk spending Christmas in the relegation zone if they fail to win this match. This would be the fifth time they have been in the bottom three at Christmas in the Premier League, though they previously avoided relegation twice. They have also drawn their last three away league matches, surrendering leads in two of them.
All signs point towards Manchester City temporarily climbing to the top of the Premier League table, at least until Arsenal face Everton.
