You’ve probably seen the script a thousand times. Manchester City turns up, keeps 75% possession, and eventually pokes a hole in a tiring West Ham defense. But if you actually watched their most recent meeting on December 20, 2025, you’d know it wasn't just a standard "death by a thousand passes" situation. It was a tactical showcase of City’s new-look midfield and a desperate fight for survival by a West Ham side that is, honestly, starting to look a bit precarious under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Erling Haaland. Two goals. Again.
It’s almost boring to write about him at this point, but the reality of West Ham vs Man City right now is that Haaland has turned the Hammers into his personal playground. With his brace in that 3-0 win, he’s now hit 11 goals against them. That’s more than almost anyone in history. Only a few players have ever bullied a single club this consistently. He isn't just scoring; he's orchestrating. He even grabbed an assist for Tijjani Reijnders to make it 2-0 before the break.
The December 2025 Reality Check
People think West Ham just rolls over. They don't. In the second half of that December clash, Gianluigi Donnarumma—who has firmly displaced Ederson as City’s number one—had to pull off a massive double save. Crysencio Summerville and Freddie Potts were knocking on the door. If one of those goes in, the Etihad gets nervous.
Instead, City did what they always do. They absorbed the pressure and then hit back through the sheer individual brilliance of Rayan Cherki. If you haven't been following Cherki's rise since he joined Pep’s ranks, you're missing out. The kid is a magician. He spent the afternoon making Ollie Scarles and Soungoutou Magassa look like they were skating on ice. He setup the second goal with a shuffle of the feet that belonged in a FIFA street montage.
City moved provisionally top of the league after that win. West Ham? They slipped into the bottom three. 18th place. 13 points. It's a grim Christmas for the East Londoners.
💡 You might also like: Cómo va el partido del París Saint Germain hoy: El Lille pone a prueba el orgullo de Luis Enrique
Breaking Down the Tactical Mess
Nuno Espirito Santo has a decent record against Pep Guardiola—four wins in twelve is actually better than most—but he got it wrong this time.
Trying to play a high-ish line against Haaland is basically footballing suicide. Jarrod Bowen tried to lead from the front, but without the pace of Jeremy Doku (who was out injured) to worry about, City’s backline of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol just squeezed the life out of the Hammers’ transitions.
- Possession: City held 66%. Standard.
- Shots: 17 for City, only 7 for West Ham.
- The Difference: City had 8 shots on target; West Ham had 3.
The Hammers missed their usual fullbacks. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Malick Diouf were away at AFCON, leaving Kyle Walker-Peters and Maximilian Kilman to try and patch up a leaky ship. It didn't work. When you're playing against a midfield featuring Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders, any gap is a canyon.
Why This Rivalry Still Matters
You might think West Ham vs Man City is a foregone conclusion. History says otherwise, or at least it used to. West Ham hasn't beaten City in the league since 2015. That’s a decade of hurt.
But the matches are rarely "easy." Think back to the 2-2 draw in May 2022 when Jarrod Bowen nearly derailed City's entire title charge. Or the EFL Cup shootout in 2021 where the Hammers actually knocked them out. There is a grit to this fixture that the scorelines don't always show.
The current problem for West Ham isn't effort. It's depth. While Pep can bring Savinho and Rico Lewis off the bench to kill a game, Nuno is looking at a squad thinned out by injuries and international call-ups. When Phil Foden is your "third best" attacker on the day, you know you're in trouble.
The Cherki Factor
We have to talk about Rayan Cherki. Pep Guardiola said he’s a player you “sometimes love, sometimes hate,” but right now, Etihad fans are firmly in the love camp. He is assisting a goal every 56 minutes at home. That is the best ratio for any player with over 250 minutes at a single stadium in Premier League history.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Week 4 TV Map: Why Your Local Station Might Skip the Biggest Game
Against West Ham, he was the bridge. With Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne sidelined—yes, City is still winning without them—Cherki has become the creative heartbeat. He doesn't just pass; he provokes. He forces defenders like Jean-Clair Todibo to step out of position, and that’s exactly when Haaland makes his move.
What’s Next for Both Clubs?
City is chasing another title, currently neck-and-neck with Arsenal. They head into the 2026 winter period looking like a machine that has found a new gear. Even with a "thin" squad, as the media likes to call it, their starting eleven is worth more than some mid-table squads combined.
West Ham is in a fight for their lives. Nuno is under immense pressure. There are even whispers that his job might be on the line if they don't get a result in the upcoming London derby against Tottenham.
🔗 Read more: Jaylin Lane College Stats: What Most People Get Wrong
Actionable Insights for the Next Encounter:
- Watch the Half-Spaces: If West Ham continues to play with a back three, they must track the runs of Rico Lewis and Tijjani Reijnders. Most of City's goals in December came from late runs into the box, not just Haaland's strength.
- Pressure the Keeper: Donnarumma is world-class, but West Ham found joy when they pressed high in the first ten minutes of the second half. They need to be brave.
- Target the Left Side: With Nico O'Reilly filling in at left-back for City, there is a perceived weakness there compared to when Gvardiol plays wider. Jarrod Bowen needs to exploit that space early.
The gap between these two teams feels wider than ever right now. One is fighting for the crown; the other is fighting to stay in the room. But in the Premier League, especially when the Hammers are under the lights, you can never completely write off a surprise. Just don't bet your house on it while Erling Haaland is still breathing.
Focus on the upcoming team news regarding the return of players from AFCON. For West Ham, getting Wan-Bissaka back will be the difference between a 3-0 loss and a competitive draw. For City, keep an eye on the fitness of Oscar Bobb and Jeremy Doku; their return will likely signal the end of any title race suspense.