On a snow-filled evening, Manchester City came out on top against West Ham United in the Premier League. The Champions records a 2-1 comfortable victory over the Hammers.
Goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho was enough for Manchester City to record their 9th victory in the league this season. A late goal from Manuel Lanzini for West Ham however was not enough for them to go away with points.
The victory meant that Manchester City reduces the gap with league leaders Chelsea to one point. West Ham on the other hand suffers back to back defeats, though they remain 4th in the league, level on point with Arsenal. a
MANCHESTER CITY 2 – 1 WEST HAM UNITED: TEAM NEWS
The Citizens made two changes to the side that won against PSG midweek in the Champions League. Aymeric Laporte came in for John Stones in defence, while Oleksandr Zinchenko moved to bench as Gabriel Jesus started instead.
West Ham however made multiple changes to the side that was victorious in the Europa League match on Thursday. Lukasz Fabianski regained his starting place from Alphonse Areola, while in defence Kurt Zouma came in for Issa Diop.
Vladimir Coufal, Mark Noble, Andriy Yarmolenko, Jarrod Bowen, Manuel Lanzini and Nikola Vlasic also lost their place in the starting eleven. The Premier League regulars Michail Antonio, Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, Declan Rice, Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson all came back to the side instead.
MANCHESTER CITY 2 – 1 WEST HAM UNITED: ANALYSIS
It was a chilly evening in Manchester as the snow kept pouring down during the match. But his did not have any effect on the dominating performance that City took out against their opponents. Like their usual self, the current champions kept more of the ball and tried to break the Hammer defence.
West Ham for their credit, was set up more defensively and the tactics look to have worked. However, their defence was breached in the 33rd minute when Gundogan gave them their lead. The first half did not have anything much, apart from the heavy snow that was falling. There were points when the visibility of the ball was very low, but things seem to become better in the second half.
Manchester City sealed their victory in the 90th minute when substitute Fernandinho scored for the hosts. West Ham never troubled the City defence, until the 4th minute of the added time. Lanzini was able to snatch a late goal for the visitors, but it was too little too late, as referee Michael Oliver blew the whistle soon after.
WHAT NEXT?
Manchester City will now travel to a resurgent Aston Villa. West Ham on the other hand will hope to bounce back from back to back defeats. The Hammers will host Brighton Hove Albion in their midweek match.
