West Ham has put together a real show offensively this season, netting 34 goals in 22 matches. Manchester City still has the top offense in the EPL by a solid four goals though, and there could be a lot of firepower on display on Saturday at Boleyn Ground.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
West Ham +425
Manchester City -148
Draw +295
Over/Under 2.5 (over -135)
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Hammers are probably showing pretty good value here at home at +425 on the moneyline, especially in a match which could end up being wide open. That said, Manchester City still has the best offense in the country right now, and with all of the pieces to the puzzle now back together and healthy up front, Manuel Pellegrini's side is as dangerous as any in the world. Being a -148 favorite isn't a huge shock.
The total is understandably high here at 2.5 and -135 vig on the over. Don't be shocked if this one moves to flat 3 by Saturday afternoon.
KEY INJURIES
Manchester City's back end is still dinged up at the moment. It's unknown when Vincent Kompany will be back in the lineup, while Fernandinho is still a question mark, too. Wilfried Bony is set to miss another week up front, but that merely limits bench options instead of starting options for Pellegrini.
Andy Carroll is set to miss the next month or so with a hamstring injury, and with Diafra Sakho also out, it's a wonder where the goals have truly been coming from for West Ham.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's impossible to replace Sergio. He's a top player, and it's very difficult to replace him. I think for every team to replace their top players is very difficult. We can play without Sergio, but of course, we're a strong EPL team with him playing at his best performance level." – Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini on the impact of having Sergio Aguero back in the lineup and healthy
RECENT FORM
Aguero's health was on full display last week against Crystal Palace in a 4-0 win at home. That's now two dominant performances out of three for the Citizens, but consistency must become the key here in the second half of the term. In the mix as well was a 0-0 dud of a draw against Everton at home, a shocking result for a team which knows that every point is vital.
There definitely is some concern at Boleyn Ground after the Hammers were beaten by Newcastle last week on the road. West Ham had won four performances in a row prior to that, but without Carroll, the offense looked a little bit sluggish.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
This is a tough match for sure. Manchester City deserves to be the favorite, but we don't think it's going to get anything more than a share of the spoils on the road. Boleyn Ground is sure to be buzzing, and even without Carroll and Sakho, we envision the Hammers coming up with some magic, particularly in the form of a late show to steal a point.
As we said, consistency here in the key, and we just don't see enough of it yet out of Man City without its captain on the field to make us feel comfortable laying -149 on the road against a team which has a real shot at a Top 4 finish.
West Ham 1, Manchester City 1
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between West Ham and Manchester City will take place on Saturday, January 23, 2016, at 12:30 p.m. at Boleyn Ground. The game will be broadcast live on NBC.
