As the Premier League season approaches the final stretch, the race for the title is heating up, and Manchester City is looking to keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the table. City will host West Ham at the Etihad on Wednesday, as they hope to cash in on one of their two games in hand and claim all three points. However, without Kevin de Bruyne, City will have to dig deep to break down a tough West Ham side.
After Arsenal‘s win over Chelsea, they reclaimed the top spot in the standings, leaving Man City in second place. With the title race down to these two teams, every point counts, and City must take advantage of every opportunity to put the pressure back on the Gunners.
Despite sitting four points above the relegation zone, West Ham has struggled in the second half of the season. However, recent wins against Wolves and Sheffield United have kept them safe, and they’ll be no pushovers for City. The Hammers will be without some key players due to illness, including Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, which could make things even more difficult for them.
Pep Guardiola will once again be without Kevin de Bruyne, who is being rested for a return in the Champions League next week. City will look to their other attacking stars to create opportunities, with Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish likely to be influential. Erling Haaland will lead the line, and City will need the Norwegian striker to be at his best to break down a sturdy West Ham defense.
City’s strength this season has been their squad depth, and with a tough run of fixtures ahead, Guardiola will need all his players to step up and contribute. The likes of Nathan Ake and Rodrigo have returned from injury, providing more options for City.
Despite their recent struggles, West Ham has proven to be a tough nut to crack this season. David Moyes’ side has shown resilience and could cause City problems. However, the visitors will need to be at their best to earn any points from the game.
In conclusion, this is a must-win game for City, and they will be motivated to claim all three points and keep the pressure on Arsenal. West Ham may have had a tough season, but they have shown they can compete against the best teams in the league. City must be at their best to come away with a win, and with their squad depth, they have the quality to do just that. The stage is set, and fans can expect an exciting game between two sides aiming for different objectives.
