Paul Merson predicts Manchester City v West Ham United score in Premier League clash
Paul Merson has shared his prediction ahead of the final day of the Premier League season as West Ham United face Manchester City on Sunday (19 May).
The Hammers are set to travel to the Etihad Stadium for David Moyes’ final game in charge as manager before Julen Lopetegui takes over, while Man City are bidding for their fourth consecutive league title.
Moyes’s side can no longer finish in a European spot, which leaves them little to fight for, and Merson believes this will be a routine 2-0 win for the current Premier League champions.
Writing for Sportskeeda on Thursday (16 May), he said: “Manchester City have done their job and look well to win their record-breaking fourth Premier League title in a row.
“This is a nice game for them to play on the last day of the season but they have to score early to ease the nerves. Against Tottenham, their nerves were jangling and they only started playing free-flowing football after Erling Haaland’s second goal.
“A lot of things can happen on the last day of the season and scoring first should be the name of the game for both Man City and Arsenal. I’ve always wondered if this Manchester City side are the greatest in Premier League history. You have to see what the charges bring before delivering a verdict on this, but they are quite simply a phenomenal team.
“They’ve done it year after year and make the other teams look ridiculously average – it’s unbelievable. Pep Guardiola has made it a practice of playing central defenders at left-back and the other day against Spurs, their second-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega came off the bench after Ederson’s injury to produce a matchwinning display.
“It just goes to show that Man City have the players on their bench who could walk into most starting XIs in the Premier League! Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 West Ham United.”
Can West Ham United beat Manchester City on the final day of the Premier League?
Considering that the Irons have not beaten Man City since a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in September 2015, when Victor Moses and Diafra Sakho outscored Kevin De Bruyne, a win seems unlikely.
However, as Merson points out, weirder things have happened on the final day of the Premier League season, and Moyes will be hoping that comes to fruition on Sunday in his final West Ham game.
A victory for the Hammers could see Arsenal lift their first league title since the 2003/04 campaign, and the first team other than Man City to win the league since 2019/20.
Of course, a win for the Gunners would see former West Ham captain Declan Rice lift his first Premier League title just one year after leaving the London Stadium in a £105million transfer [BBC Sport].
Some would greet that with some hostility, while others may be extremely proud to see one of their former stars performing at the very top of the Premier League.
Merson could be absolutely spot-on with his prediction for the game, but until we reach Sunday (19 May), anything could happen on the final day of the league season.
In other West Ham news, the wife of a Hammers player has potentially stirred up a controversy with her recent comments on social media accusing the club of bias.
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