The team from London has brought number of new players and results of its latest friendlies are variable. Manchester City won on last Sunday the first title this season after it defeated Liverpool in the Community Shield, while last season the City defeated West Ham both times with a clean sheet. Man. City won recent friendly with West Ham by 4-1.
Beginning of new season couldn’t be more difficult for West Ham, but it is perhaps better to face the champions and individually the best team in England right at the start. It will be immediately clear to the team from London what they can expect this season and is the ambition to reach European positions this season realistic. They hope that their rival is not in the best shape at the very beginning, while regarding West Ham it had played friendlies with variable success.
They lost right to Manchester City, as well as to Newcastle, while against Hertha in the dress rehearsal they were very good and won by 5-3. West Ham fans were particularly happy with fact that among scorers were two biggest reinforcements that came this summer, midfielder Fornals who came from Villarreal, and forward Haller who was bought from Eintracht Frankfurt. Stopper Cardoso and forward Ajeti arrived but the latter has problems with injury. Manager Pellegrini will send now Fornals and Haller on the pitch from the first minute.
Probable lineups West Ham: Fabianski – Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell – Noble, Rice, Fornals – Antonio, Haller, F. Anderson
It's always difficult to start a new season when you are defending something and Manchester City is defending all domestic titles including the title of English champion. However, they showed last season that in addition to knowing how to win titles they also know how to defend them as they managed to defend the champion’s title, which is not an easy thing to do in the Premier League. Now, they are going after the third consecutive title and again they have a great team that is able to do it. At the beginning Manchester City defended the title in the Community Shield. They defeated Liverpool after penalties at Wembley last Sunday. It can't be said they outplayed their big rival and the title could have easily finished at the Anfield, but Manchester City is simply predestined for titles and they executed penalty shootout were shot without a glitch.
There were several weakly played matches in the preparatory period and for example Wolverhampton defeated them, but it is clear that the City cannot be in top competitive form all the time. The team is not weaker and in fact it is even stronger than was last season, for midfielder Rodrigo who came from Atletico Madrid. Experienced stopper Kompany left as well as some other players who were not in the foreground. They sent Danilo to Juventus in exchange for better and younger J. Cancel. They were weakened with absence of Fernandinho, L. Sane and Laporte.
Probable lineups Man. City: Ederson – Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko – Rodri, de Bruyne, D. Silva – B. Silva, Aguero, Sterling
Manchester City is a great favourite to win and that is clear to everyone but West Ham will try to surprise at the beginning of season and show what it can at the home pitch. We expect an open match with plenty of excitements and goals.
Pick: Over 3 goals 1.73 - 73.100@1XBet