Wright-Phillips assesses West Ham encounter | OneFootball

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Manchester City F.C.

·15 May 2022

Wright-Phillips assesses West Ham encounter

Article image:Wright-Phillips assesses West Ham encounter

Shaun Wright-Phillips has explained where he believes Manchester City can get the better of West Ham United in Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash.

Pep Guardiola’s men travel down to the London Stadium on Sunday 15 May for our final away match of the season, with kick-off scheduled for 14:00 (UK).


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Victory for City would ensure we need just one more point to be guaranteed back-to-back titles, while a Liverpool defeat would also seal the crown with a game to spare depending on us beating the Hammers.

And although West Ham will offer a tough proposition, Wright-Phillips has pinpointed where he believes we can get the better of David Moyes’ side.

The former City and England winger has also offered his thoughts on our incredible away record in the Premier League this season, with our only defeat so far coming in our first match of the campaign against Tottenham.

“Most teams, when they’re at home, don’t sit back. They try to come out and impose their game on City,” he said.

“(But) if you do that to City, they can capitalise because you are leaving the gaps there for them to exploit.

“(Craig) Dawson has been in fantastic form and likes to put his body on the line so it will be hard to get those clean shots off, but it could also create some deflections that will benefit us.

“But for me, West Ham can be quite loose in the full-back areas if (Aaron) Cresswell is not playing, so I think (City can win the game) in and around their centre-backs and full-backs.”

Although Wright-Phillips is hopeful we can pick up three points at the London Stadium, he also believes David Moyes’ side will push us to our limits.

West Ham are within touching distance of a second successive top-six finish in the Premier League and got the better of City in the Carabao Cup on our last visit to the London Stadium.

With defensive options limited, Guardiola’s men will need to be at our best to keep the hosts at bay.

Indeed, Wright-Phillips expects a difficult assignment in the capital, but insists the focus simply remains on picking up all three points, regardless of the hosts’ threats.

Article image:Wright-Phillips assesses West Ham encounter

He said: “We all know how strong Michail Antonio is and how much work he puts in, (so) whether we had a full defence or not it would still be hard to handle him.

“Jarrod Bowen is a different sort of opponent, he is a more technical player and equally happy going on his left or right foot. He knows where the net is at the minute as well.

“For sure, City will have learned something (from the West Ham defeat, but at the same time they already know what is on the line when they get there.

“We are fighting to retain the Premier League title, so that is the focus right now.

“It will be a hard challenge (against West Ham), which is why it was so important we won our last match against Wolves.”

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