team news
Reverting to the starting XI that beat Crystal Palace last week, the boss recalls Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes, Josko Gvardiol, Bernardo, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland.
Oscar Bobb misses out with injury, but James Trafford, Nathan Ake, Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov, Divin Mukasa and Rico Lewis all move to the bench.
CITY: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Nico, Bernardo (C), Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Haaland
SUBS: Trafford, Ake, Savinho, Khusanov, Gray, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, Heskey
WEST HAM UNITED: Areola, Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Magassa, Potts, Fernandes, Summerville, Paqueta, Bowen (C)
SUBS: Hermansen, Igor, Wilson, Mavropanos, Rodriguez, Soucek, Irving, Kante, Mayers
WHEN AND WHERE
Pep Guardiola’s side host West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium for the final time in 2025 on Saturday 20 December, with the game scheduled for kick-off at 15:00 (UK).
The game will be not be shown live in the UK, but you can keep across all of the action via mancity.com and our official app, as well as the key moments on X/Twitter: @ManCity.
Supporters living around the world can find out how they can tune in via our global TV listings below, courtesy of liversoccertv.com
Next Fixture
All fixturesPremier League
GMT
Opposing manager - nuno Espirito santo
During his career, Espírito Santo first made a name for himself in Spain, before starting his coaching career at Greek club Panathinaikos as an assistant.
He later became a coach in 2012, leading Portuguese club Rio Ave to both domestic cup finals in 2014. After brief spells at Valencia in La Liga, and a return to Porto, he managed Wolverhampton Wanderers for four years.
In 2021, he took over as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, before moving to Al-Ittihad in July 2022 where he won a league title and Saudi Super Cup.
In December 2023, he returned to the Premier League as head coach of Nottingham Forest, who he guided to seventh in the Premier League last season - their highest finish since 1994/95.
Before being appointed head coach at West Ham in September 2025.
Danger men
Jarred Bowen is instrumental in attack, proven with his opening goal against Aston Villa. He has also formed a strong partnership with Niclas Fulkrug and his ability to score and provide assists is vital.
While Aaron Wan-Bissaka contributes significantly to the defensive stability.
Callum Wilson signed from Newcastle in the summer and has brought in valuable experience and a goal scoring ability to the Hammers.
Lucas Paquetá’s skills and contributions to the midfield have also been pivotal.
PEP GUARDIOLA PREVIEW
Pep Guardiola has confirmed City will be without four key players against West Ham United.
Rodri, John Stones and Jeremy Doku were all absent for the midweek win over Brentford in the Carabao Cup – and remain sidelined for Saturday’s Premier League game.
There was no further update on the injury Oscar Bobb picked up against Brentford, with the Norwegian also missing out against the Hammers.
Asked for the latest on his injured players, Pep said: “We have a game tomorrow and after we have five days before Nottingham, Sunderland.
“Nottingham, Sunderland, maybe a few of them will start to be back. But tomorrow, no.”
Asked about West Ham and their struggles this campaign, the boss added: “We are prepared. They didn’t get enough [good] results, but they have drawn lately at Old Trafford and Brighton, and we know how difficult they are.
“They only lost at the end against Aston Villa [last weekend], who look almost unstoppable right now.
“Always they have top class players. So huge respect [for West Ham], but at the same time we’re ready.”
Previous meeting
We last faced the Hammers in January 2025 as we played out the Premier League fixture at the Etihad Stadium.
City claimed a 4-1 victory as Vladimír Coufal scored an own goal, followed by an Erling Haaland brace and rounded off by Phil Foden in the 58th minute.
Niclas Füllkrug managed to claw one back with less than 20 minutes to play, but it could only act as a consolation on a historic day which saw Kevin De Bruyne become the 15th player to make 400 appearances for City in all competitions.
Last time out
We secured a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
Rayan Cherki put us on our way with a wonderful opener shortly after the half-hour mark when he hit a vicious strike into the top corner.
And Savinho doubled our lead midway through the second half with a deflected effort after a lightning fast break from the Brazilian.
It means City are into the last-four for the first time since 2020/21 when we lifted the trophy for an eighth occasion.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Paul Tierney
Assistants: Richard West, Marc Perry
Fourth official: Lewis Smith
VAR: Alex Chilowicz
Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan
Global TV listings
Supporters around the world can find out how to tune in to watch the match live by clicking here, courtesy of livesoccertv.com.
Listings correct as of Saturday 20 December.
city v west ham app coverage
With no live TV coverage our official app is the best place to be.
Minute-by-minute text updates will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, while our Matchday Live show will begin at around 13:45 (UK).
Shaun Goater, musician Alex Spencer and his dad Brad will join Cel Spellman and Braydon Bent as they offer a mix of insight before, during and after the action.
During the game you can also listen to live audio commentary from Alistair Mann and Andy Morrison, while our text commentary continues.
Make sure to have push notifications turned on, so you can be alerted to key moments in the action, including goals, red cards and the team news.
A quick-hit 2-minute highlights package will be available from 19:00 (UK) while you can sign-in to watch a free 8-minute edit from midnight.
Meanwhile on CITY+, from midnight there’ll be our popular full-match replay as well as our new extended highlights reel showing the best 20 minutes of action from the game.
City v West Ham tickets
Get into the festive cheer for the nearest home fixture to Christmas as we welcome West Ham!
We face Nuno Espirito Santo’s men on Saturday 20 December with a 15:00 (UK) kick-off at the Etihad.
Tickets are on sale to Cityzens Matchday and Junior Members - it’s three tickets per Member.
All adult Cityzens Matchday general admission tickets are priced between £30 - £60 while Under-18 tickets are between £15- £30.
The Blues have won every home fixture with the Hammers since Pep Guardiola’s arrival into the City hotseat with this game always an exciting one.
Two matches of late have been especially noteworthy with Erling Haaland breaking the single-season Premier League scoring record in the May 2023 clash as he received a Guard of Honour from teammates after the game.
And then, a double from Phil Foden and a superb strike from Rodri ensured a 3-1 triumph over the Londoners in May 2024 on the final day of the season as we collected Four-in-a-Row Premier League titles.
Make sure you’re here for this latest edition!
News about Man City v West Ham
How can I watch City v West Ham on TV?
Find out how you can watch City’s Premier League clash with West Ham, wherever you are in the world. Read more
City without injured quartet for Hammers clash
Pep Guardiola has confirmed City will be without four key players against West Ham United. Read more
Even more to come from Cherki and Nico, says Pep
Pep Guardiola has praised the huge impact of both Rayan Cherki and Nico so far this season – but insists there is so much more to come from the City midfield duo. Read more
Team potential excites Pep
Pep Guardiola admits he is excited by his team’s gradual evolvement this season. Watch more
City v West Ham: Man City app is the ideal destination with no UK TV coverage
City v West Ham is a Saturday 15:00 (UK) kick-off on 20 December – meaning there’s no live TV coverage in the UK. Read more
Our last 10 home Premier League goals against West Ham
Ahead of this weekend's clash, take a look at our last 10 goals in home Premier League games against West Ham. Watch more
Analysing West Ham ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash
An in-depth look at the West Ham side we’ll face this weekend… Read more
City make seven changes for Hammers clash
Pep Guardiola has made seven changes from the City side that started against Brentford in midweek. Read more
One Moment in Time: Haaland’s Guard of Honour
Ahead of this weekend’s home game with West Ham, we dip into the pictorial archives for a special spotlight on Erling Haaland’s record-breaking heroics against the Hammers at the Etihad. Read more
City v West Ham programme: Foden interview and Christmas City memories
An exclusive interview with Phil Foden is one of the highlights our final matchday programme of 2025 when we face West Ham at the Etihad Stadium. Read more
Guardiola details how his side can keep improving
Pep Guardiola says he’s pleased with the progress his new look City side have made, but insisted we still have a lot of work to do. Read more
Nunes relishing full-back challenge
Matheus Nunes says he’s enjoying his run at right-back in Pep Guardiola’s City side. Read more
The margin is there to improve – Pep
Pep Guardiola is happy with how the season has panned out so far but believes there’s more to come from his ever-flourishing side. Watch more
Training: Heading into Hammers clash
Check out the best photos from Friday's training session at the City Football Academy... View more
