Manchester City will look to build on a belated return to winning ways when they welcome West Ham to the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s ailing champions scrapped their way to a 2-0 victory at Leicester City last weekend, the win just their second in 14 games across all competitions.
West Ham endured a chastening 5-0 loss to runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool on the same day. That result came as something of a jolt after a modestly encouraging run of four matches unbeaten, with Julen Lopetegui still grappling to get to grips with his Hammers squad.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news and predicted lineups.
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Man City vs. West Ham lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Nathan Ake was substituted with 20 minutes remaining at Leicester on his second game back from a hamstring injury. Guardiola has previously conceded City are carefully monitoring the Dutchman’s fitness and fatigue levels but will be keen for his calm head to helm an injury-hit defence with Ruben Dias and John Stones still sidelined.
James McAtee produced a standout cameo at the King Power Stadium, living up to the clamour from City fans for him to be granted more minutes. Guardiola also offered fulsome praise afterwards, and the England Under-21 star might have done enough to earn a start.
Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker each returned to the bench following injury and illness respectively and could be rotated back in to freshen up the XI.
Man City predicted lineup (4-1-4-1, right to left): Ortega (GK) — Walker, Akanji, Ake, Lewis — Kovacic — McAtee, De Bruyne, Grealish, Savinho — Haaland
Injured: Stones (foot), Dias (muscular), Nunes (undisc.), Ederson (undisc.), Ake (doubt)
Suspended: None
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Lukasz Fabianski was substituted with a head injury during the Hammers’ 1-0 Boxing Day win at Southampton and, under concussion protocols that stipulate a two-week absence, he is expected to sit out once more with Alphonse Areola continuing between the posts.
Lopetegui is boosted by the return of Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez from suspension. Expect both to start in midfield, especially after Edson Alvarez was substituted at halftime against Liverpool on his own return from injury.
Captain Jarrod Bowen was replaced after taking a knock to his ankle last time out and is in a race to recover in time to face City.
West Ham predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Areola (GK) —Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Emerson — Soucek, Rodriguez — Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus — Fullkrug
Injuries: Fabianski (concussion), Kilman (shoulder), Bowen (ankle — doubt), Antonio (leg)
Suspensions: None
Man City vs. West Ham live stream, TV channel
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