Manchester City are overwhelming favorites heading into this clash, sitting second in the table with a rampant run of form and a dominant historical record against West Ham. The Hammers, languishing in 18th and winless in five, face a monumental task. Yet, anything can happen when you see that Brighton and Newcastle have both beaten City this season, and under Nuno Espírito Santo, West Ham have played well against both of those teams.
The key to this match-up is the man up front. Erling Haaland is a West Ham killer with 9 goals in 6 matches. To counter Haaland, Nuno might deploy a 3-man back line, especially with Aaron Wan Bassaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf not available do to their national team assignments at the AFCON tournament. In the last two meetings Max Kilman was dispatched to mark Haaland, but that clearly didn't work. Look for a rotation between Jean Claude Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos, with help from defensive midfielder Soungoutou Magassa, who was not with the team the last time Manchester City played West Ham.
Expect City to dominate possession and probe with their trademark patience, exploiting spaces through the wings and half-spaces. Haaland will be the focal point, looking to add to his tally against a vulnerable West Ham backline. The visitors may set up compactly, relying on quick transitions led by Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, but containing City's midfield overload will be crucial. One advantage for West Ham is that the Blues are coming off a hard-fought victory against Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals. Guardiola's men could overwhelm if they hit an early rhythm, but West Ham's physical approach under Nuno has occasionally frustrated top sides on the road.
Despite their recent hot streak, Manchester City remain susceptible on the counter-attack, particularly with key midfield anchors like Rodri and Mateo Kovačić sidelined long-term. Pep Guardiola's high line and possession-dominant style often leaves spaces behind the defense during transitions.
While a West Ham win would be a massive shock—City have won the last 19 meetings without defeat and dominate at the Etihad—the blueprint exists: absorb pressure, stay compact, and strike decisively on the break. Nuno is known for organization and physicality; if the Hammers deliver a flawless away performance, they could snatch a point or even three, boosting their survival bid.