Man City vs West Ham LIVE Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Ilkay Gundogan and substitute Fernandinho scored for the hosts before a late stunner from Manuel Lanzini
Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan struck in the midst of a first-half snowstorm before a late goal from substitute Fernandinho proved enough to secure a 2-1 home victory over West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday.
The win lifts City back up to second place and level on 29 points with leaders Chelsea, who host Manchester United in the late game. WestHam, who snatched an added-time consolation with a superb Manuel Lanzini strike, stay fourth on 23 points.
“It was a very difficult day because of the weather conditions but it is always difficult against this team,” City midfielder Rodri told the BBC.
“We were lucky to get this first goal because in the first half we couldn’t play much. In the second we dominated and could have scored more.”
With thick snow falling for most of the opening half, City’s Riyadh Mahrez had the ball in the net in the 16th minute after a superb finish but his effort was ruled out for offside.
City took the lead in the 33rd minute when Mahrez drove the ball across the goal and Gundogan was on hand to steer it home.
That marked the beginning of a spell of heavy pressure from the hosts and they could have gone 2-0 up four minutes later but Gabriel Jesus’s shot was cleared off the line by Ben Johnson.
Halftime saw the snowstorm abate and an army of groundstaff cleared the pitch. WestHam then had another let-off when Aaron Cresswell made a goal-line clearance as City dominated.
It took the home side until the 90th minute to score again, however, as Jesus teed up fellow Brazilian Fernandinho to net three minutes after he came off the bench.
Having seen little to warm them up during the game, the WestHam fans finally had something to celebrate when Lanzini won the ball on the edge of the area and sent an unstoppable shot into the top right corner with the final kick of the game.
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David Moyes desperate to avoid another ‘boom and bust’ cycle for West Ham
Pep Guardiola moves on from PSG as he prepares Man City for ‘difficult’ West Ham
Man City vs West Ham: Guardiola on Sterling
After a difficult start to the season which saw him lose his starting place in the Manchester City team to Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling has scored three goals in his last four games for City and manager Pep Guardiola has backed Sterling to rediscover his best form. He said:
I’m so glad for him, he’s helped us for sure. He will fight to be better and better. Scoring goals can give confidence but he has to do better. This is the first step for him to come back.
“We don’t put pressure on with numbers. Try to score goals and help us win the games. The group is everyone and everyone makes contributions to the team winning games.
“He has to play like he knows he can do it. And the rest? He can do it.”
Man City vs West Ham: Bernardo in good form
If he scores against West Ham today, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva will have netted in three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time.
Man City vs West Ham: History is against West Ham
West Ham have won 20 top-flight fixtures in 2021, their highest total in a calendar year since claiming 21 victories in 1986.
Their only Premier League win away to reigning champions was a 1-0 victory at Manchester United in December 2001.
They have taken just five points from a possible 75 in such fixtures, losing 22 of 25 matches.
Man City vs West Ham: Sterling back to his best?
Raheem Sterling has been involved in 11 goals in his last eight league appearances against West Ham, scoring six and assisting five. He’s netted three times in his last four matches for Manchester City and is just two short of 100 Premier League goals.
Is he the man to watch today?
Man City vs West Ham: Pep Guardiola moves on from PSG as he prepares Man City for ‘difficult’ West Ham
Pep Guardiola believes his Manchester City side face a tough challenge to replicate their midweek heroics as they face West Ham this weekend.
City produced a superb performance to claim a memorable victory over Paris St Germain and secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Guardiola now wants to maintain the momentum as the Premier League champions host the Hammers on Sunday but he expects a difficult afternoon against David Moyes’ fourth-placed side.
Pep Guardiola moves on from PSG as he prepares Man City for ‘difficult’ West Ham
City return to domestic action after a big Champions League win in midweek.
Man City vs West Ham: Hammers looking to avoid consecutive defeats
Defeat at Wolves ended West Ham’s run of four consecutive Premier League wins. They are in danger of losing back-to-back league games for the first time since April.
Man City vs West Ham: City keen on clean sheets
Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven Premier League home games, with the exception being a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in October.
They have lost four of the previous five top-flight home matches in which they did not keep a clean sheet, including each of the last three games.
Man City vs West Ham: Raheem Sterling reaping rewards of going ‘back to basics’, says Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has praised Raheem Sterling’s attitude following the Manchester City forward’s recent return to form.
After an indifferent start to the season, the England international has scored in three of City’s last four games, including the crucial equaliser in Wednesday’s Champions League win over Paris St Germain.
Raheem Sterling reaping rewards of going ‘back to basics’, says Pep Guardiola
The England international has scored in three of Manchester City’s last four games.
Elsewhere in the Premier League
As well as Man City vs West Ham, there are another two Premier League matches kicking off at 2pm. Brentford are hosting Everton in the sunshine and Watford are at Leicester.
As has been said, Burnley vs Tottenham has been postponed because of the bad weather.
Man City vs West Ham: Baby, it’s cold outside
It’s cold and snowing up North. Such much so that the Premier League match between Burnley and Tottenham at Turf Moor has been postponed due to adverse weather.
At the Etihad Stadium the groundsmen are hard at work making the pitch as snow free as possible. The game should still go ahead but it’ll be a cold one for the players and fans.
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