Football

West Ham United vs Manchester City predicted lineups: Pep set to hand midfielder debut?

Manchester City visit the London Stadium this weekend. They kick off against West Ham at 15:00 in the capital in a clash between two teams who made excellent starts to the new season. The visitors are looking to maintain their 100% start by getting the better of David Moyes’ team.

West Ham United vs Manchester City predicted lineups and news

Manchester City have made the perfect start to their title defence. Burnley, Fulham, Sheffield United and Newcastle United have all been defeated with 11 goals scored only 2 conceded ensuring Pep Guardiola’s team are in familiar territory on top of the Premier League.

West Ham are one of four teams on ten points just behind them though. After a slow start to the transfer window, the Hammers got lots of late deals done as they splashed the Declan Rice cash and they appear to have recruited well with the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez already slotting nicely into the midfield.

Team news: West Ham United

West Ham players
Brighton and Hove, England, 26th August 2023. James Ward-Prowse of West Ham United celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0 during the Premier League match at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton and Hove. Paul Terry / Sportimage – Photo by Icon sport

West Ham have had a 15 day wait for another fixture that they probably didn’t really need with momentum building nicely before the international break. The Hammers have won their last three games, beating Chelsea 3-1 at home before road victories at Brighton and Luton.

The home team are hoping to be at full strength here with no major selection issues currently for David Moyes. Tomas Soucek should be available which will give the home boss a decision to make in midfield with Alvarez, Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta having all started the win at Kenilworth Road.

It is possible that all four could play with rotation likely to follow on Thursday night when West Ham play Backa Topola in the Europa League which should enable a host of fringe players to get valuable minutes.

West Ham United predicted lineup

Areola, Emerson, Zouma, Aguerd, Coufal, Alvarez, Paqueta, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Bowen, Antonio

Team news: Manchester City

Manchester City have a few more issues to contend with in terms of selection. Kevin De Bruyne is the big absentee although the Citizens have coped well without their star midfielder so far this season.

The visitors also have doubts over Jack Grealish, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic which raises the possibility that we’ll see a couple of new signings in action here. Jeremy Doku made his debut in the recent 5-1 win over Fulham and will be hoping for another start while fellow late summer arrival Matheus Nunes is still waiting for his first action in a City shirt.

Like West Ham, they too host Serbian opposition in Europe this coming week with FK Crvena Zvezda visiting the Etihad on Tuesday. With City in a relatively weak Champions League group, they’ll almost certainly be prioritising the trip to West Ham over that game in terms of selection.

Manchester City predicted lineup

Ederson, Gvardiol, Akanji, Dias, Walker, Rodri, Nunes, Foden, Alvarez, Silva, Haaland

Will Matheus Nunes play?

Matheus Nunes
Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes warming up ahead of the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday September 2, 2023. – Photo by Icon sport

Given the question-marks over whether or not Stones and Kovacic will feature and the longer term absence of De Bruyne, it’s likely Matheus Nunes will make his Manchester City debut here and potentially as a starter.

It’s a tricky game for a debut but the £53m signing from Wolves has shown he is more than up to the task in the Premier League until this point.


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