Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville share Premier League title verdict at West Ham v Manchester City
West Ham United face a mammoth task to prevent Manchester City from winning the Premier League title on 19 May, according to Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast after City’s 2-0 victory at Tottenham on 14 May, Carragher and Neville said they couldn’t see “any way” in which the Hammers would defeat the defending champions on the final day of the season.
West Ham can still finish eighth in the table, and either a win or draw against City would give Arsenal the chance to claim the title should they beat Everton in their corresponding fixture.
Carragher wasn’t holding much hope, saying: “David Moyes’ interview after the last game; he said West Ham would find it tough to beat Manchester City’s under-14’s, so that doesn’t bode well for Arsenal.”
On the chances of an upset, he added: “I can’t see City in any way not winning that game 11 v 11, so something really freakish would have to happen.”
Neville agreed, saying: “I just don’t see any way in which Manchester City are not going to go and finish the job on Sunday.”
West Ham to stop Manchester City?
West Ham’s poor run of form in recent weeks has seen them fall out of European contention, with nothing left to play for other than a slightly better league placing in Moyes’ last game in charge.
Heading to Manchester with City currently on an eight-game winning streak (all of which have come by at least two goals), the signs don’t look good for the Hammers’ hopes on the final day.
However, the Irons’ comeback victory on 11 May against Luton gave Moyes a home send-off to remember, and that may spur on some confidence that his players can produce a title-defining upset.
Moyes’ side took a 1-0 lead in the first half of the reverse fixture back in September through James Ward-Prowse, before City equalised in the first minute of the second period and added another two goals late on.
Ward-Prowse’s clinical strike got the Hammers back level against Luton before fellow midfielders Tomas Soucek and George Earthy struck to seal the win – could he get on the scoresheet again at City?
City’s comeback in the reverse fixture – as well as their imperious form of late – suggests that even if West Ham do gain an early advantage, they’ve got more than enough in their tanks to overturn it.
But if Moyes can manage the game to a degree that frustrates City, maybe even bringing about a dismissal or other “freakish” event leading to a shock defeat, he would sign off his career with the Hammers having potentially decided the fate of this season’s Premier League title.
In other West Ham news, Paul Merson has dropped an “unbelievable” verdict on Julen Lopetegui that will shock Hammers fans.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channelfor instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.