Manchester City vs West Ham United preview: Sterling misses out with hamstring injury

By Ric Turner, Fri 07 February 2020 14:50


Manchester City vs West Ham United preview: Sterling misses out with hamstring injuryEngland winger a doubt for CL tie with Real Madrid

Manchester City vs West Ham United

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 9th February 2020

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Graham Scott Assistants: N Davies, R West Fourth Official: C Kavanagh

Odds: City 1/8, Draw 10/1, West Ham 22/1

Tickets: On sale via tickets.mancity.com

TV: Sky Sports

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Carson, Ederson, Cancelo, Garcia, Laporte, Mendy, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Foden, Gundogan, Mahrez, Rodri, B Silva, D Silva, Aguero, Jesus

Injured: Sterling, Sane

Doubtful: Laporte, Mendy

Suspended: None

Form guide: DWWLL

West Ham United

Manager: David Moyes

Squad (from): Fabianksi, Martin, Randolph, Reid, Cresswell, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Cardosa, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks, Masuaku, Lanzini, Snodgrass, Sanchez, Noble, Fornals, Soucek, Antonio, Rice, Haller, Ajeti

Injured: Yarmolenko, Anderson, Wilshere

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: DLLLD

Raheem Sterling has been ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in last week's defeat to Spurs, and is a doubt for City's last 16 Champions League tie with Real Madrid. Leroy Sane has continued to train with the first team, but is still some weeks away from a return to action.

The visit of West Ham represents City's last game before the winter break, and manager Pep Guardiola feels his squad will benefit from the rest:

“We have a game and then we have days off, then we prepare when we come back for the next games,” the manager said.

“A little break is good for everyone. Now we are going to do it.

“March is busy, but this month we have a bit more space between games.”

City won the last game against the Hammers at The Etihad 1-0, courtesy of a Sergio Aguero penalty. Overall City have won 56 of the 110 games played against West Ham, with 17 draws and 37 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, D Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, B Silva, Aguero

Score prediction: City 3 West Ham 1