West Ham United vs Manchester Metropolis preview
After every week of break-in membership soccer as a result of worldwide break, the Premier League will resume once more. The competitors for locations within the league has been so fierce that followers are witnessing a minimum of one prime conflict each week. And this week, that conflict is between West Ham United and defending champions Manchester Metropolis. Guardiola’s males have began their title defence ideally by successful 4 on the trot.
Nonetheless, they now face their strongest challenger on the highway in West Ham United, who’ve already proven that they’ll go toe-to-toe with any staff. David Moyes has created an ideal system the place they use quick counterattacks to catch groups off guard. Their sport towards Brighton was an ideal instance the place the Hammers gained 3-1 regardless of having 22 per cent possession and 67 per cent passing accuracy.
Each groups stay undefeated after 4 video games and can be trying to lengthen their streak. Manchester Metropolis have to this point adjusted pretty to life after Ilkay Gundogan and the harm of Kevin de Bruyne. Erling Haaland has began the place he left off, scoring six objectives in 4 video games to grow to be the highest scorer. In the meantime, Rodri and Phil Foden have been impeccable in midfield. Their defence has additionally been supreme, conceding solely two objectives, the least within the league. New signings corresponding to Josko Gvardioil and Mateo Kovacic have taken to the staff like a duck to water.
However, West Ham United have been spectacular too. After drawing their first sport, they’ve gained three video games on the run, together with over Manchester United and Brighton. James Ward Prowse has been their finest participant, creating three assists. Jarrod Bowen has scored three objectives and can also be the perfect participant within the league relating to Anticipated Threats (xT) from carries. Different prime performers are Lucas Paqueta, who performed eight by balls, the second-best within the league, and Kurt Zouma, who has made probably the most clearances (36).
West Ham United vs. Manchester Metropolis lineups
West Ham United lineup
West Ham United, throughout the 4 video games, has largely performed a settled squad, altering one or two gamers solely. The battle is for the 2 spots within the midfield between Edson Alvarez, James Ward Prowse, and Tomas Soucek. Whereas Ward Prowse is an automated starter, within the final two video games, Alvarez has performed on the quantity six place. Nonetheless, Moyes may select to play the identical lineup as towards Brighton, which can see Stated Benrahma dropping out for Soucek. In defence, Aguerd is anticipated to companion Kurt Zouma with Emerson and Vladimír Coufal, the fullbacks. In assault, Michale Antonio has been doing what he does finest: bullying the opposition’s defence.
West Ham predicted lineup: Areola; Emerson, Aguerd, Zouma, Coufal; Alvarez; Paqueta, James Ward Prowse, Soucek, Bowen; Antonio.
Manchester Metropolis lineup
In the meantime, Pep Guardiola has an array of superstars and has to this point used them well, rotating them within the 4 video games. Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake have taken turns to play within the two centre-backs. Accidents have additionally necessitated a few of these adjustments, however John Stones, Jack Grealish, and Mateo Kovacic are anticipated to return for the sport. Kovacic will certainly companion Rodri within the central midfield. Guardiola has additionally operated Julian Alvarez as an attacking midfielder simply behind Erling Haaland with vital impact. All these tiny tactical tweaks have allowed the staff to negate the affect brought on by the harm to Kevin de Bruyne.
Manchester Metropolis predicted lineup: Ederson; Gvardiol, Dias, Akanji, Walker; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, Alvarez, SIlva; Haaland
West Ham United vs. Manchester Metropolis predictions
For each groups, that is the toughest conflict within the new season. And in a nutshell, the 2 groups can’t be any completely different. Whereas Manchester Metropolis like to have the ball for lengthy intervals, West Ham choose to play with out it as a substitute of taking part in with a low block that emphasises speedy counterattacks.
It is going to be a problem for each groups, and thus, the video games could possibly be outlined by a couple of moments the place both of the groups could have an opportunity to open the scoring. Whereas Metropolis possesses the perfect assault within the league, the West Ham United again 4 is the perfect wager to cease them.
FootTheBall predicts a 1-1 draw.