Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United
Manchester City drew level with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League thanks to a well-earned win at home to West Ham, as snow swept through the north of England.
Burnley’s Premier League fixture at home to Spurs was called off; and 20 miles down the road there was a wintery scene too in Manchester. And while the match finished late as groundsmen needed extra time to clear the snow, the Sky Blues got the result they needed.
Ilkay Gundogan gave City a first-half lead and though they could have had two or three more, the score stayed at 1-0 until Fernandinho scored a 90th minute second. Manuel Lanzini scored a consolation deep into injury time, but the result was never in doubt.
Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Arsenal nudged the Sky Blues down to third place, while Chelsea entertain Manchester United in the late kick-off. The Premier League 2021 betting odds are backing the Sky Blues for the title and this cool-as-you-like performance shows just why.
Highlights of the game
As the snow bucketed down at the Etihad the Hammers seemed to settle better in the freezing conditions and had some decent early chances. David Moyes rested Michail Antonio for West Ham’s midweek visit to Vienna and his star striker looked sharp from the off. He teed a great chance up for Said Benrahma some six yards out, but he couldn’t sort his feet out and fluffed his chance. Then Antonio came close twice, first he was inches short of a cross from Arthur Masuaku and then, after leaving Aymeric Laporte for dead, he hit a low shot which Ederson smothered.
That early flurry from the Hammers seemed to wake up the Sky Blues who began to pick up their pace, and only the upright could save West Ham when Laporte met a cross from llkay Gundogan. Then VAR helped the visitors after Riyad Mahrez slotted home, only to be found offside. But no one or nothing could stop City from taking the lead on the half-hour.
It was a Sky Blue classic. Joao Cancelo spread the ball out to Mahrez and he fired in a low cross to give Gundogan a tap in.
Brilliant and clinical.
The hosts almost doubled their lead immediately but Ben Johnson made a brilliant goal-line clearance to deny Gabriel Jesus, then Mahrez unleashed a rocket which crashed back off the post as the Hammers hung on until half time.
And they were hanging on again early in the second half. Jesus couldn’t believe he hadn’t scored when he had a second bit of the cherry after Lukasz Fabianski denied him with a brilliant save; but just as the Brazilian thought he’d rolled the rebound home Aaron Cresswell slid in to clear off the line.
The City slickers were passing the ball around crisply on the frosty surface and seemed to be easing towards the three points, but the had a reminder that West Ham were still well in the game when Declan Rice stung Ederson’s palms with a long-range effort. And then Fabianski kept his side in the game making a brave save to deny Gundogan.
But West Ham’s resistance was broken again in 90 minutes when Fernandinho finished coolly from a Jesus pull back. And there was still time for Lanzini to smash home his consolation with virtually the last kick of the match.
Key statistics
Even in these conditions City were irresistible, with 69 per cent possession and a shot count of 19 to five and nine to three on target.
Ilkay Gundogan has scored 15 non-penalty goals since the start of last season, the most of any Premier League midfielder.
But West Ham just can’t win away to reigning champions, last doing do so in 2001 and, since then, they have taken just two points on the road against the top dogs.
What’s next?
On Wednesday Manchester City are away to Aston Villa; and that’s a fascinating prospect as Pep Guardiola comes up against Steven Gerrard in the dugouts. The former Liverpool captain has impressed in the Scottish league with Glasgow Rangers, but this is a huge step up which he has made pretty well so far. Two wins in two, against Brighton and Crystal Palace have changed the mood at Villa Park after a run of five consecutive defeats under the previous manager Dean Smith.
Villa may be another stepping stone for Gerrard, who is widely tipped to end up at his former club Liverpool, but for the time being the Villains have a strong leader at the helm. West Ham have two home games to come, against Brighton on Wednesday and then they welcome league leaders Chelsea for a London derby to savour. Romelu Lukaku is fit again for the Blues; and the match up with Antonio will be worth watching. Here at SBOTOP we’ll be previewing and reporting on that game; so keep your eyes open for the best odds and the latest Premier League 2021 updates right through the week.
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