West Ham – Manchester City : Preview & Prediction
Motivated by the disappointment of last season’s UEFA Europa League semi-final defeat, David Moyes has bolstered West Ham’s attack with the addition of Gianluca Scamacca, who scored 16 times in Serie A (SA) last season. The Italian is one of four notable additions as West Ham will look to fight back domestically and in Europe once again.
Scamacca alone may not be enough to see West Ham off to a winning start considering Manchester City will be the away side at the London Stadium. The Hammers have never beaten City in the Premier League (PL) at their new home (E2, P4), but after defeating Newcastle 4-2 on opening day last season, Moyes’ side are looking to win on the opening day of the PL in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2013/14 campaign.
City are no strangers to drama on the final day of the PL – they had to come from 2-0 down against Aston Villa to win 3-2 to win the Premier League for the sixth time in their history. Pep Guardiola, never one to rest on his laurels, has gone big in the transfer market this summer, adding Kalvin Phillips and arguably the world’s best striker in Erling Haaland in a bid to secure a third consecutive PL crown.
Guardiola’s side will be under no illusions that the pressure will be on them to replicate last season’s success again. That pressure showed in City’s opening day defeat at home to Tottenham last season, ensuring the reigning PL champions have lost their first game in three of the last six seasons (G3), but given that City are unbeaten in their last 18 PL away games (G14, E4), they will be hoping not to add another defeat to that record.
Players to watch: It took Scamacca eight games to score his first SA goal, but when he did, it’s worth noting that he scored his first four league goals during the first half. Picking up where his father Alf Inge Haaland left off in the PL with a game against West Ham, Haaland would become the seventh Norwegian to score on his PL debut should he find the back of the net.
Key stat: West Ham have not won any of their last nine PL matches against defending champions (E2, P7).
West Ham – Manchester City : Betting Tips
Manchester City – Win Odds: 1.45
