BBC pundit suggests West Ham need January transfer window, predicts Manchester City result

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West Ham United travel to take on Manchester City this afternoon.

Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Manchester City will beat West Ham United 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.

Pep Guardiola’s City side are at home once again today, having beaten Southampton 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium in midweek, with Raheem Sterling scoring a last-gasp winner.

With 12 wins in a row, City remain top of the Premier League table, and whilst Manchester United’s win at Arsenal on Saturday evening means the lead at the top is down to five points, Guardiola and co can move back to eight points clear today.

With 44 goals scored and just nine conceded, City are a fearful prospect for most teams – but especially for today’s opponents, West Ham United.

The Hammers are struggling to score goals, whilst they have conceded a league-high 30 goals this season, as they remain in the Premier League relegation zone.

The appointment of David Moyes has done little to help West Ham’s fortunes, and the Scot is still searching for his first win in the job having lost 4-0 at Everton in midweek.

Few are giving his side even a glimmer of hope against a rampant City side, and pundit Mark Lawrenson has followed suit, predicting a 3-0 win for City.

Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks West Ham just need to get through to the January transfer window, when they can solve their problems, but for now, they don’t have the personnel to compete with City.

“West Ham collapsed against Everton in midweek, and they are another team that needs to see December as a kind of damage-limitation period, and then try to solve their problems in the January transfer window,” said Lawrenson. “Their forthcoming fixtures are not exactly helpful from that point of view, though, starting at Etihad Stadium and then with home games against Chelsea and Arsenal.”

“Southampton and Huddersfield have shown in the past week how teams can make it difficult for Manchester City, even if Pep Guardiola’s side still beat them both in the end. I don’t think the Hammers have got the personnel to do that, though,” he added.