Man Cityvs.West Ham

The Citizens ended 2024 with a morale-boosting 2-0 triumph at Leicester City, a game that all of Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg), Ruben Dias (muscle), Matheus Nunes (unspecified), John Stones (foot) and Ederson (unspecified) sat out.

Rodri, Bobb and Dias have no chance of coming back for the visit of the Irons, but at the time of writing, none of Nunes, Stones or Ederson have been ruled out of the champions' first game of 2025.

Guardiola should shed more light on their respective recoveries in his pre-game press conference, but while Ederson remains uncertain, it is safe to assume that Stefan Ortega will continue in between the posts.

The holders welcomed Kyle Walker back to the squad at the King Power Stadium following an illness, but the right-back may have to accept another substitute cameo as Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake continue at the back.

Indeed, Guardiola may not be willing to tinker with a winning formula whatsoever, as Man City have a seven-day break in between this game and their FA Cup third-round match with Salford City, where several changes can be expected.

As a result, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic and Kevin De Bruyne are primed to continue in midfield, while Phil Foden and Savinho work in tandem with Erling Haaland, who bagged a hat-trick against the Irons at the London Stadium earlier this season.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:

Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Kovacic; Foden, Silva, De Bruyne, Savinho; Haaland

Written by

Ben Knapton