Manchester City returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a struggling Leicester City side.
While the result was a welcome relief for Pep Guardiola’s men, their performance still left room for improvement. However, a return to the Etihad Stadium to face West Ham, a team City has dominated with 14 wins in their last 15 Premier League home encounters, should boost the squad’s morale.
City’s consistency in starting a new calendar year on the right foot is impressive, with 17 wins in their last 18 league games to kick off January. Their current run of 12 consecutive victories in these fixtures highlights their determination to set the tone early. Yet, recent form at home has been a concern, with just one victory in their last five competitive matches at the Etihad. Conceding ten goals in that period is uncharacteristic for a Guardiola side and something they will need to address quickly.
West Ham’s confidence will be fragile after a humbling 5-0 defeat to Liverpool at the London Stadium. The result heaped pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui, with speculation mounting that his position could be in jeopardy. A trip to face Manchester City, a team the Hammers haven’t beaten in their last 18 Premier League meetings, only adds to the challenge for the Spanish coach.
This winless streak against City is West Ham’s joint-longest in their league history against any opponent. To make matters worse, their defensive frailties have been glaring. Conceding 79 goals in 2024—more than any other Premier League side—highlights the scale of the task facing Lopetegui and his players.
Erling Haaland’s return to form will be a worry for the visitors. After ending a three-game league scoring drought with a goal against Leicester, the Norwegian striker will look to build on his record of seven goals in five Premier League meetings with West Ham. He has been particularly prolific against Wolves, but West Ham remains one of his favorite opponents.
For the visitors, Tomáš Souček has been a bright spot in midfield, contributing four league goals this season. However, Souček’s personal record against City remains a point of frustration. He has yet to score in ten appearances against them, a statistic he shares only with Liverpool, whom he has faced more often without finding the net.
Despite their struggles, West Ham has shown resilience on the road, failing to score in just one of their nine away league matches this season. This suggests they are capable of troubling City’s defense, especially given the champions’ recent vulnerabilities at home. However, turning that into a positive result will require a near-perfect performance.
As the Hammers prepare for one of the toughest fixtures in their calendar, Lopetegui will need to inspire his side to defy the odds and end their miserable run against City. For Guardiola, this match presents an opportunity to tighten up defensively and reestablish the Etihad as a fortress. The stage is set for a compelling clash between two teams with very different aspirations for the season ahead.
Advertisement
We’re on Social Media
Follow us on X
See more football highlights
World Time Zone
| Europe | GMT |
 London | 15:00 |
| Edinburgh | 15:00 |
 Madrid | 16:00 |
 Lisbon | 15:00 |
 Berlin | 16:00 |
 Paris | 16:00 |
 Amsterdam | 16:00 |
 Rome | 16:00 |
 Belgrade | 16:00 |
 Sofia | 17:00 |
 Warshaw | 16:00 |
 Tirana | 16:00 |
 Istanbul | 17:00 |
 Kyiv | 17:00 |
 Moscow | 17:00 |
| North America | GMT |
 New York, New York City | 10:00 |
| Texas, Dallas | 09:00 |
| Utah, Salt Lake City | 08:00 |
| California, Santa Clara | 07:00 |
| Alaska, Anchorage | 06:00 |
 St. John’s | 12:00 |
| Halifax | 11:00 |
| Toronto | 10:00 |
| Winnipeg | 09:00 |
| Edmonton | 08:00 |
| Vancouver | 07:00 |
 Mexico City | 08:00 |
| South America | GMT |
 Sao Paulo | 11:00 |
 La Paz | 10:00 |
 Lima | 09:00 |
| Australia | GMT |
 Perth | 22:00 |
| Eucla | 22:45 |
| Darwin | 23:30 |
| Adelaide | 23:30 |
| Brisbane | 00:00 |
| Sydney | 00:00 |
| Asia | GMT |
 Mecca | 17:00 |
 Kabul | 18:30 |
 Karachi | 19:00 |
 New Dehli | 19:30 |
 Dhaka | 20:00 |
 Jakarta | 21:00 |
 Singapore | 22:00 |
 Kuala Lumpur | 22:00 |
| Africa | GMT |
 Accra | 14:00 |
 Porto Novo | 15:00 |
 Casablanca | 15:00 |
 Johannesburg | 16:00 |
 Cairo | 17:00 |
 Nairobi | 17:00 |
Where to watch Manchester City vs West Ham Live Stream, and on Satellite TV?
beIN Sports MENA English 1 (Gbr),
fubo Sports Network 7 DRM (Can),
Nova Sports Premier League (Gre),
Sky Sport Premier League (Nzl),
SuperSport Premier League (Afr),
SuperSport Premier League (Rsa),
True Premier Football 1 (Tha),
True Premier Football 2 (Tha),