EPL Predictions: Man City vs West Ham

Manchester City will take on West Ham United in their first Premier League game of the season today.

The Hammers are never easy to beat and their wily manager Moyes will be hoping to surprise the reigning champions.

West Ham Team analysis

West Ham have been really smart in the transfer market.

They have brought in Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo who can take on the goal-scoring responsibilities and reduce the load on Michail Antonio.

Another key player will be Maxwell Cornetwho has come from from Burnley.

However, new signing Nayef Aguerd will miss the start of the season due to injury.

In fact, Moyes will be concerned about the fitness levels of his squad.

Angelo Ogbonna is also continuing his rehab after missing most of last season with an ACL injury and is not yet fit enough to return.

Moyes is set to continue with the 4-2-3-1 formation he used last season.

Lukasz Fabianski will continue in goal while Alphonse Areola will be his deputy.

Craig Dawson and Kurt Zouma will form the central defensive partnership.

Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell will be the two full-backs.

Cresswell will also be in charge of set pieces.

West Ham have one of the best midfield partnerships in Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice.

Their physicality and ball-winning abilities will be crucial in containing the attack-minded Man City midfield.

Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, and Jarrod Bowen will feature just ahead of the midfield duo and complement the West Ham attack.

The West Ham attack could be spearheaded by Michail Antonio.

Likely Starting Line up (4-2-3-1):

Fabianski; Coufal, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio

City will be hoping to give a debut from the start to Erling Haaland, and Julian Alvarez may be hoping to get a start himself after his goal in the Community Shield game against Liverpool.

Man City Team analysis

City are without Aymeric Laporte for the game, who is recovering from a knee surgery.

Laporte is not expected to return until September.

There are no other significant injuries in the team.

New signings Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips can all make their Premier League debuts for Manchester City.

Alvarez and Phillips will start from the bench.

Manchester City look set to turn out in Guardiola’s customary 4-3-3 formation.

Nathan Ake looks set to partner Ruben Dias at the heart of the Manchester City defence, as John Stones is lacking match fitness.

Joao Cancelo played the highest number of minutes of any Manchester City player across all competitions last season and will be the left-back.

Kyle Walker will be the right-back.

Rodri should start in the holding midfield position, Bernardo Silva will don the right central midfield role, whereas Kevin De Bruyne is expected to start in the attacking midfield position.

In the final third, Guardiola will have to decide whether to pick Phil Foden or Jack Grealish from the start. The former Aston Villa man started against Liverpool last time out but was largely underwhelming, while Foden provided the spark off the bench.

Riyad Mahrez enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2021/22, chipping in with 24 goals and nine assists in all competitions.

The Algerian winger is likely to feature in the final third, with star signing Haaland and Phil Foden

Likely Starting Line Up (4-3-3):

Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden

Who will win

Haaland could score on his EPL debut and Man City will win 2-0.