BBC Pundit Mark Lawrenson predicts a 3-1 loss against Man City for West Ham on Wednesday evening and he is not alone.
Lawro told the BBC website “West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, who won the title as City boss in 2014, will get a good reception from the home fans but his side are in for a tough night.
City have some injury problems, including Fernandinho who will be a big miss in midfield because they struggle to replace him, but they have got enough good players on form to hurt the Hammers. It also helps Pep Guardiola’s side that they have just won the Carabao Cup too. It is not quite a case of ‘pressure off’ but it is one piece of silverware in the bag.
Everyone will feel good on the back of that, but at the same side Pep will make sure that they stay grounded. West Ham carry a threat up front, but they are not great defensively and I don’t think City will struggle to find a way through”
Sky Pundit Paul Merson agrees and predicts a 3-0 loss at the Etihad for the Irons.
He wrote on the Sky Sports Website: “If you can drag a game on for as long as possible, Manchester City are not the same team. When they get 1-0 and 2-0 up in the first 15, 20 minutes, you might as well go home. They all want the ball.
But as it drags on, they get a bit nervous, not many want the ball and it gets a bit iffy. But I can’t see West Ham stopping them from scoring in the first half.
Our Claret and Hugh poll from yesterday tells the same story from 1,172 votes counted. 68% of readers who voted in the poll believe Man City will win with just 11% predicting a West Ham away win and 21% predicting a draw.
Bookies will give you just 1/8 odds-ons for a Man City win, a straight draw is 8/1 while a West Ham win is 20/1
For a correct score, you can get 60/1 for a 1-0 Hammers win or 120/1 for a 2-0 win, a 3-0 win is 400-1!