Manchester City v West Ham United
Premier League, Etihad Stadium, Wednesday 3 May 2023, 8pm BST
West Ham United make the journey to Manchester City on Wednesday evening.
The Etihad Stadium will host the Irons for a fixture that has major importance at both ends of the Premier League table.
City are battling with Arsenal to secure the title for the fourth time in five seasons, while the Hammers sit four points above the bottom three as the end of the 2022/23 campaign approaches.
Victory over Pep Guardiola's side would see David Moyes' side rise to 14th, above Wolverhampton Wanderers. A draw would take the Londoners five points clear of Leicester City, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest with four matches remaining.
Tickets...
The first 90 per cent of tickets sold out to Bondholders and Season Ticket Holders with 20+ Loyalty Points. The remaining 10 per cent (306 tickets) were then made available to Season Ticket Holders who had yet to purchase for this fixture by a ballot process. This ballot closed at 12pm on Friday 3 March.
Tickets for the sold out fixtures with Manchester United and Leeds United are available on the Ticket Exchange, with Season Ticket Holders who cannot attend this fixture relisting their seats for other supporters to buy. Click here to check availability or relist.
Travel...
As is the case with so many football stadia these days, it is recommended that supporters take public transport, rather than driving to the game. However, with this being a midweek evening fixture, taking the train will necessitate an overnight stay in Manchester.
If you are taking the train up from London, take a service from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly.
From Piccadilly, take the Metrolink to Etihad Campus, from where it is a short walk to the stadium.
If you do drive, park at one of the many Metrolink stations which have Park and Ride car parks, and board the tram to the ground. For a full list, click here.
How to Follow...
Wednesday's game will be broadcast live by Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League and Ultra HDR in the UK, and will be shown across the world by the Premier League's international broadcast partners.
You can listen to commentary in the UK on BBC Radio London 94.9FM and worldwide on whufc.com and our official app.
You can also follow the action via our live blog on whufc.com and our app and across our social media channels. We will also have highlights and exclusive reaction for you after the final whistle.
Team News...
West Ham United boss David Moyes will be without two players on Wednesday. Striker Gianluca Scamacca has undergone surgery to repair a knee issue, while centre-back Kurt Zouma was replaced during Saturday's fixture at Crystal Palace with an ankle injury.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Dutch defender Nathan Aké has recovered from a thigh injury, while Belgian attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was set to train on Tuesday after missing Sunday's win at Fulham.
Opposition...
Manchester City are enjoying another superb season under Pep Guardiola.
The Spaniard has led the Citizens to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, where they face Real Madrid, the FA Cup final, where they face Manchester United, and to a position where they are odds-on to win not just those two trophies, but also the Premier League title for the fourth time in five seasons.
Of course, the headline act for Guardiola's side this season has been Norway centre-forward Erling Haaland. The son of former City midfielder Alf Inge, the younger Haaland has plundered 50 goals in all competitions in his first season in English football, including 34 in the Premier League.
Haaland's first Premier League goals came in a 2-0 win at West Ham United last August, but the 22-year-old is far from the only weapon in Guardiola's armoury.
Kevin De Bruyne remains chief creator and has 16 Premier League assists to his name, helping his team to a division-best haul of 84 goals. At the other end of the pitch, City have conceded just 30 goals - second-best to Newcastle United.
Whatever happens on Wednesday evening, Guadiola's eye-catching side will surely end the season with yet more silverware to add to the Etihad Stadium trophy cabinet.
Previous Meetings...
West Ham United have not exactly had a great time on recent visits to Etihad Stadium, with our last six Premier League trips to Manchester City all ending in home wins, and the Londoners scoring just four goals in total in those matches.
Our last win at the Etihad was during the Farewell Boleyn season, 2015/16, when first-half goals from Victor Moses and Diafra Sakho secured a 2-1 success – our only victory in 16 Premier League visits to City’s new home, which was originally built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games..
In fact, that was our last Premier League win over Manchester City anywhere, with City winning eleven and drawing three of the 14 meetings since.
Match Officials...
Referee: John Brooks
Assistant Referees: Matthew Wilkes & Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth Official: Robert Jones
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis
John Brooks will referee West Ham United for the first time in his officiating career at Etihad Stadium.
The Leicestershire FA-affiliated Brooks hails from the town of Melton Mowbray, which is world-famous for its pork pies!
Brooks was promoted to the Select Group 2 in 2018 before joining the Select Group 1 of Premier League referees in 2021, taking charge of his maiden top-flight fixture between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley in December of that year.
In all, Brooks has refereed 18 Premier League matches, in which he has shown 81 yellow cards, one red and awarded six penalties.
While he has never taken charge of a West Ham game, this will be his second appointment for a Manchester City fixture, having previously refereed the hosts' 6-0 FA Cup victory over Burnley in March this year.
