MAN CITY visit West Ham in a challenging first game of the new Premier League season as they look to defend their crown.
The Hammers finished seventh in the league last year as they enjoyed another brilliant season under David Moyes.
But City won the league once again, and they’ll be looking to get their campaign underway in style today.
- Kick-off time: 4.30pm BST
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Cresswell, Johnson, Rice, Soucek, Lanzini, Bowen, Fornals, Antonio
- Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Foden, Haaland, Grealish
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West Ham 0-1 Man City
37, Rice is late on Foden and City have a free-kick from a shooting position.
It would take something very special to beat Areola from here, mind.
GOAL! – West Ham 0-1 Man City
35, Haaland is the coolest man in the building, rolling the ball into the bottom right corner. Areola went the wrong way.
Manchester City take the lead!
West Ham 0-0 Man City
34, Penalty to City!
Areola is the guilty party, diving in on Haaland.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
32, De Bruyne looks to find Haaland in behind and we see a glimpse of Walker’s pace, sprinting beyond the forward in an attempt to reach the ball.
It had too much on it and Areola can claim it.
The fans inside here attempt to raise their side’s game.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
31, Antonio looks okay to continue and play can resume.
You wonder if these stoppages might just disrupt City’s rhythm.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
30, Antonio is the next to go down requiring treatment. He seemed to land funny on an already strapped up knee.
West Ham substitution – West Ham 0-0 Man City
28, That knock was clearly too much for Fabianski to continue and he makes way for Areola.
.Credit: AP West Ham 0-0 Man City
26, Goal dissalowed!
Haaland flicks the ball on to Gundogan who squares it to De Bruyne.
The Belgian has the simple task of tapping home, but the flag is quickly raised against Gundogan, who was clearly offside in the build-up.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
24, Fabianski and Haaland exchange words and the game can resume.
It’s been all City inside the opening 25 minutes, but they’ve nothing to show for it so far.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
22, Fabianski requires some treatment after bravely punching the ball clear. In the process, the Polish international takes a Haaland boot to the stomach.
The City players take the opportunity for some water. It’s 31 degrees here an the players will be feeling it.
.Credit: Reuters West Ham 0-0 Man City
20, Haaland comes close!
Foden curls in a lovely ball, but it’s inches in front of the on-running Haaland who would have had a sitter with his head.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
19, A word on City’s kit.
West Ham may feel like they’re playing against 11 parking attendants at the moment.
The high-vis is certainly not hard to miss.
.Credit: Reuters West Ham 0-0 Man City
19, City are probing.
Foden spots Grealish in space who scoops one into Haaland. It rolls out to De Bruyne who attempts something similar but West ham stand firm.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
17, Guardiola looks deep in thought as City win their first corner of the match.
It doesn’t beat the first man.
.Credit: PA West Ham 0-0 Man City
15, West Ham try the long ball over the top, but Lanzini had strayed offside.
A chance for City to launch another attack now.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
13, Rice’s interception on Rodri draws a roar from the crowd. But their attack is cut short and City get up the other end with Cancelo.
The full-back drifts inside and finds De Bruyne who hesitates before dragging his shot wide of the far post.
Big let-off for the hosts.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
12, After an early Manchester City scare, the visitors are having it all their own way now, making West Ham do the work.
Grealish is left in a heap on the floor after a mis-timed tackle by Coufal. He’s lucky to escape without a booking there.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
8, City are looking to apply the pressure.
Rodri feeds one into Haaland and Zouma is forced to shank one clear.
.Credit: PA West Ham 0-0 Man City
7, Grealish tries to tease one in towards Haaland, but Johnson is there to head clear.
The Englishman is finding room down the left though.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
5, City’s first attack ends up in the arms of Fabianski.
Cancelo and Grealish combine down the left, but the winger’s ball in is too close to the keeper.
It looks as though Foden will occupy the right-hand side, with Haaland through the middle.
West Ham 0-0 Man City
2, An early scare for the visitors!
Cresswell swings in a speculative ball to Antonio and it’s out for a corner.
West Ham keep the pressure on and Antonio gets another chance, leaping highest, flicking his header just over the bar.
KICK-OFF – West Ham vs Man City
Both sets of players take the knee and referee Michael Oliver blows his whistle to get this one underway.
Antonio and De Bruyne appeared to be in deep conversation on the half-way line in the lead-up.
Here come the players!
Both sets of players emerge from the tunnel into to a bouncing London Stadium.
The fans are in very good voice for this spectacle.
It’s all smiles amongst the West Ham players who look delighted to be back.
New faces
West Ham’s latest addition Maxwel Cornet is being unveiled in front of the fans prior to kick-off and receives a warm reception.
The Ivorian, who signed for £17.5million, will be a spectator for this one.
Friends before foes
David Moyes and Pep Guardiola re-acquaint themselves before the match gets underway.
Who will have the edge today?
.Credit: Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
