Man City welcome West Ham to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon for a 3:00pm kick-off in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s men are just two points behind Arsenal in the title race, while West Ham currently reside in the relegation zone, three points from safety. Find our match preview and best bets below.
Best Bets & Predictions
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rayan Cherki Anytime Assist | 9/4 @ SBK (30.8%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Rayan Cherki is really starting to find his feet at Manchester City and has put in some exceptional displays over the last few weeks. The Frenchman was on the scoresheet with a beauty of a strike against Brentford on Wednesday in the League Cup quarter-final, but it’s the anytime assist market that we like his price on Saturday. Cherki has recorded four assists in his last 196 minutes of Premier League football, and looks a nice price here to make it seven in the league since his switch to City. |
| Bernardo Silva to be Carded | 19/5 @ SBK (20.8%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | No player has been booked on more occasions in the Premier League for Manchester City this season than Bernardo Silva, who, along with Gianluigi Donnarumma, has four to his name. Bernardo has a tendency to pick up cards against the top teams, such as Arsenal and Liverpool; however, there’s an added incentive for him to be booked here, as one more would mean he would miss the game on the 27th and could enjoy a more leisurely Christmas. SBK are a current top price of 19/5 for Bernardo to be booked against The Hammers. |
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams go into Man City vs West Ham
It’s been a strong few weeks for Manchester City, who have won their last six matches across all competitions. That run includes some tricky trips to Crystal Palace and Real Madrid, and Pep Guardiola’s side are looming large, just two points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table as we approach this key period of the campaign.
West Ham will have been devastated that they twice took the lead against Aston Villa last season, only to leave the London Stadium empty-handed after losing 3-2 last weekend. The Hammers are three points away from safety, but are winless in their last five after not tasting victory since getting the better of Burnley at the start of November.
Man City team news
City have lost Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri to AFCON. Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, Rodri, John Stones and Oscar Bobb are all out for the hosts.
West Ham team news
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Diof have jetted off to AFCON. Niclas Fulkrug and Lukasz Fabianski are injured.
Season Form & Standings
2025/26 season to date. Manchester City are second in the league with 34 points from 16 games, while West Ham United languish in 18th with just 13 points. City’s goal difference (+22) versus West Ham’s (-13) highlights the gulf between the sides.
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 2 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 38 | 16 | +22 | 34 |
| West Ham United | 18 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 32 | -13 | 13 |
Head-to-Head: Last 5 Meetings
Manchester City’s recent record against West Ham is flawless, with 15 straight wins and three draws in the last 18 encounters. City have scored at least three goals in each of the last five meetings.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 04/01/25 | Man City 4-1 West Ham | Premier League |
| 31/08/24 | West Ham 1-3 Man City | Premier League |
| 19/05/24 | Man City 3-1 West Ham | Premier League |
| 16/09/23 | West Ham 1-3 Man City | Premier League |
| 03/05/23 | Man City 3-0 West Ham | Premier League |
Conclusion
Given Manchester City’s relentless record against West Ham and their superior form in all departments, it’s hard to see anything other than another commanding win for the hosts. However, to squeeze some value out of the market, we’ve taken a lean towards Rayan Cherki providing an assist at 9/4, and Bernardo Silva picking up a Christmas card at 19/5.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
