West Ham v Man City: Back City to edge it & Bowen to star in 13/2 Bet Builder | OneFootball

They're all big games at this stage of the season but this one has genuine repercussions at both ends of the table as improving West Ham try to dig their way out of trouble while shell-shocked Man City resume their pursuit of Arsenal.

It's 18/5 on the Hammers to win - something they've not managed against City in 20 league meetings - but recent performances under Nuno Espirito Santo have been encouraging. Beating Fulham last time out was massive but they were also unlucky to get just two draws after bossing Bournemouth and leading Man Utd until the 96th minute.

And as their 3-0 mauling in Madrid showed in midweek this is not the same Man City side, even as 7/10 favourites here Pep Guardiola has a job on to lift his side after that rare humiliation. They could still put West Ham away easily if they're on song but they're not the consistent machine they once were.

Drawing 2-2 at home to Nottingham Forest summed it up perfectly, and made it eight points dropped from winning positions in the last 17 league games - something that hardly ever happened with Guardiola's previous City teams.

Nuno's West Ham have become a much tougher nut to crack, losing just two of 11 to make the FA Cup quarter-finals and edge closer to safety, and they've had a couple of extra days to prepare than City so they should have a plan in place - but this will all be about how City react to their midweek nightmare.

You have to think City will come out swinging, and they're a hugely better first-half side than they have been after the break, so I'd expect them to start strong, and score the first goal as they're expected to at 1/2.

West Ham carry a goal threat now though, scoring in 10 of 12 but also keeping just four clean sheets. Both teams have scored in six of City's last 10 as their leaky defence threatens to prevent them from catching Arsenal in the title race.

Both teams to score is 1/2 as a result while over 2.5 goals is 4/9 and both should really land here. The 16/5 draw can't be ruled out but City usually respond after defeats so despite the Hammers giving them a game it should be a welcome three-point bounceback for the visitors.

Since we've got the Betfair Bet £10 Get £10 offer on again for Bet Builders we best look at some of the best stats and player prop bets available.

Jarrod Bowen remains West Ham's main man and any attacking joy will surely come through the skipper - who has a goal or assist in six of his last eight games. And with four goals and four assists in that spell his best bet is a goal or assist at 6/4.

Erling Haaland will be keen to prove a point after getting just 10 touches in the Bernabeu but at 4/6 to score anytime he's short enough and I think I'd rather back Antoine Semenyo at 7/5 anytime scorer as his seven goals in 14 appearances is some going for joining a new team in January.

There's also two standout stats bets that appeal, starting with West Ham to have over 4.5 corners at 7/5. The Hammers have had five corners in three of their past four Premier League games and Man City have conceded as many in their past two league aways.

Guardiola's men have picked up three bookings in their last four league away days, so backing Man City over 2.5 cards at 10/3 makes sense in this crucial game under the lights coming off the back of a big loss.

The stats double as worded above works out at around an 8/1 Bet Builder double.

We require three legs to qualify for the offer though so what we usually do for Bet Builders like this is just take the totals down a notch for safer options, so we'll lower slightly the cards and corner tally and add Bowen to be involved in a goal again against this dodgy City rearguard.