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EPL Betting – West Ham try to Upset City

Zack Garrison

by Zack Garrison in News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:39 AM PST

West Ham United (+1025) at Manchester City (-370), Draw (+495)

A tough week for West Ham United (1-0-1, 3 pts) isn’t going to get any easier, as the Hammers have to visit current first place and EPL favorites  Manchester City (2-0-0, 6 pts) at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday (11:00 AM Eastern).

West Ham fell short of the Europa League group stage following a 2-1 aggregate loss at the hands of Astra Giurgiu. It was the second straight year the Romanian club knocked West Ham out in the qualifying round. The Hammers couldn’t convert any of their 17 attempts in Thursday’s 1-0 loss at home, and if the offense can’t improve quickly, it will be an ugly result this weekend.

Slaven Bilic’s side was one of the surprises of last season, finishing in seventh place. The Hammers registered a 2-1 win and a 2-2 draw vs City last year, but under the new leadership of Pep Guardiola, Manchester City is finally playing up to their potential.

Not everyone is moving forward with Pep’s new vision though. Longtime goalie Joe Hart appeared to play his last game with City this week, as the team signed keeper Claudio Bravo from Barcelona. Though goalkeeping will be the last of their worries if the squad can keep up their scoring pace. City have pummeled their opponents this season, and Sergio Aguero has lead the way with three goals.

On top of 4-1 win over Stoke and a 2-1 victory over Sunderland, City also wrecked Steaua Bucharest 6-0 on aggregate in the third round of Premier League qualifying.

All of this is adding up to a long day for West Ham. Offensively challenged and likely missing dynamic midfielder Dimitri Payet, City should roll in this game and keep their spot at the top of the standings.

Pick: City -370.


(Photo Credit: By Jon Candy (Flickr: DSC04205) CC BY-SA 2.0  [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

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