The banner headline game in the Premier League this weekend, based off just table position, is West Ham visiting Manchester City. No really, it is! It’s first versus fourth as the Irons, who finished just above the relegation zone last season, are true top four contenders this season.
Of course, Chelsea vs Manchester United is the big brand, headliner fixture of the weekend, but that’s a match-up of second versus fifth. Given what we know of the team news, let’s take a look at what kind of team David Moyes might put out at City on Saturday.
West Ham United at Manchester City FYIs
Kickoff: Sat Feb 27, 12:30 GMT, City of Manchester Stadium
Team News: West Ham United Manchester City
Starting XI Predictions: West Ham United Manchester City
PL Form Guide: West Ham United WWDWL Manchester City WWWWW
PL Position: Irons 4th, 45pts Manchester City 1st, 59 pts
Odds: Hammers +1100 Draw +500 Manchester City -455
The Hammers have one of the finest midfields in the league, and quite possibly the world in Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. Their dominance in defensiveness and controlling the ball is a huge reason for their fine form and big surge up the table this season.
However, this is a massive massive test in Man City, so the odds are certainly long against them.
Starting XI Prediction at Manchester City
Fabianski, Cresswell, Fredericks, Dawson, Coufal; Rice, Soucek; Benrahma, Lingard, Bowen; Antonio
Prediction: Manchester City 2, West Ham United 0
There are many reasons for City’s recent dominance lately, but first and foremost is the fact that they just don’t concede goals. It’s hard to enough to even get shots, or quality chances for that matter, because Pep Guardiola’s side is typically dominant with possession.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank, partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.