Signing off 👋

That's all from us here at the Etihad Stadium.

We can't have any complaints about that can we? We were comfortably in control throughout to claim all three points in our first game for 16-days. Pretty impressive!

That sets us up nicely for Saturday's trip to third-placed Leicester City, where we'll kick-off at 17:30 (UK).

As always, we'll have live updates here on mancity.com, so make sure you join us from around 15:30 (UK).

See you then! 

The boss speaks!

In control 💪

Pep reacts

"We are professionals on the pitch, what happens off it we cannot do much. We talked about what we have to do until the end of the season, especially for the people who love this club. We will play our game the best as possible. We have a lot of interesting things to play for."

David Moyes: They move the ball so well

"Probably not as close as we'd like but I felt the players did a great job in trying to be organised and disciplined. We did it well for long periods but they move the ball so well."

Our verdict on tonight's win...

De Bruyne: A decent return

"It was OK. I think we saw its been three weeks without football and we felt a little bit of rustiness but we played a good game."

Stat pack 📈

I think you're going to like these...

🔹 Kevin De Bruyne has had a hand in 24 Premier League goals this season (eight goals and 16 assists). That's three more than next best, Jamie Vardy on 21.

🔹 Aymeric Laporte has set a new record by winning 43 of his first 50 Premier League games. He overtakes the previous joint holders Ederson, Arjen Robben and Didier Drogba.

🔹 Pep Guardiola has beaten West Ham in each of the nine games he has faced them. That's his best win rate in all competitions as City boss.

🔹  Rodrigo attempted 188 passes tonight and completed 178, both of which are Premier League records since data collection began in 2003-04.

A clean sheet on his return 👌

🔝

FULL-TIME: City 2-0 West Ham

Back in action and back to winning ways! 🙌

It was a routine win for City, in a game in which Ederson didn't have a save to make and we could have been out of sight at half-time, had Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero converted a couple of decent chances.

There were less opportunities after the break, but Kevin De Bruyne's goal made sure of the victory. 

A solid three points. 👍

Added time

Four minutes added on. City seem happy to see the game out. We're knocking the ball around pretty casually. 

Final change

David Silva, who gets a high five from Pablo Zabaleta on his way off, makes way for Phil Foden in our third and final substitution of the night.

City Sub

The boss makes a change in midfield, with Ilkay Gundogan replacing Kevin De Bruyne.

One assist and one goal for the Belgian. Not a bad night's work! 

SO close!

Well done, Lukasz Fabianski. 👍

The ball seems to take an age to drop for Gabriel Jesus, whose eight-yards from goal - and the Hammers keeper takes advantage to get off his line and make himself big as the Brazilian catches it sweetly to plough the ball into his midriff.

Would have been three but for the visiting No.1. 

Wild

Nowhere near as many chances in this half so far. 

West Ham have just countered after City lost possession in midfield - much to Pep's frustration - but Michail Antonio's resulting shot was high, wide and not too pretty.

How King Kev makes me feel! 😃

City Sub

Pep makes his first change of the evening as John Stones comes on to replace Aymeric Laporte at centre-half.

Time for Zaba

The Etihad Stadium rises in unison to salute Pablo Zabaleta, as he comes on to replace the injured Ryan Fredericks.

He just had to come on didn't he. The South Stand is belting out his name as he gets to work out on the pitch.

🎵 Oh Pablo Zabaletaaaaa 🎵

Inches away

Sergio Aguero has just ignited some life into what's been a fairly quiet start to the second half. He motored past Angelo Ogbonna after being picked out by Kevin De Bruyne and arrowed a low drive across the face of goal. 

There'll be a few fantasy football managers hoping he gets on the score sheet tonight, I expect...

ICYMI: 👑

SECOND HALF

Hammers' captain Mark Noble gets us back under way.

No changes for City at the break. An early goal would be most welcome.

When you think you've seen it all...

Moonchester and West Ham mascot Hammerhead have just raced the length of the Etihad pitch in front of Olympic medalist, Kris Akabusi.

And I am delighted to report: MOONCHESTER WON! 🥇

👑

HALF-TIME: City 1-0 West Ham

We go in ahead after a comfortable opening 45 minutes. Ederson hasn’t had a save to make and we could quite easily have scored at least one more goal.

Rodrigo’s effort the difference though and what a great header it was.

A few early goals after the break would settle the nerves somewhat! 

⚠️

Michail Antonio has just delivered an enticing ball from the right as West Ham countered. 

All it needed was a touch as it flashed across the face of goal, but Robert Snodgrass couldn't get on the end of it. 

A bit of a let off for us there. 

Silva service

Very nearly a second as David Silva gets on the end of Bernardo's right-wing cross. The Spaniard arrives at the ball just after Lukasz Fabianski, who pushes it onto his foot and it rolls well wide.

If David had got there a split-second earlier we might have been celebrating a second!

Oh Nico that is lovely!

Meg 🥜 from Nicolas Otamendi!

He's drawn out wide and under pressure from Angelo Ogbonna. It's no problem though as he nonchalantly rolls the ball through the Italian's legs. 🤩 

Goals got me like...👇

👏👏👏👏👏

We knew it was coming. 

Pablo Zabaleta has just come out to warm up for the first time. He jogs down to the North Stand in front of the Blues' in the Colin Bell Stand and gets a rapturous applause. 

Lovely stuff.

Well done, Kyle! 👏

Another half-chance for the Hammers and again it's from a Ryan Fredericks' cross. He whips a teasing ball in but Kyle Walker uses his body well to prevent Michail Antonio getting on the end of it.

Called into action

Approaching the 20 minute mark and West Ham ask questions of our defence for the first time.

Kyle Walker's clearing header from Ryan Frederick's cross is recovered by Arthur Masuaku, whose own cross is nodded away by Nicolas Otamendi.

Relatively simple. 

Another one!

It is all City. It should probably be 2-0. And Gabriel Jesus should probably have two goals.

He is left unmarked in the area as Kevin De Bruyne slips the ball through, but Aaron Cresswell somehow manages to recover and make two saving blocks.

Great defending in all fairness. 👏

Chances piling up

Lukasz Fabianski's reflexes keep the scores level. Gabriel Jesus squares to De Bruyne, who drills a daisy cutter goalwards from 18-yards, that takes a deflection en-route.

Unfortunately for us, Fabianski recovers to get a hand on it.

Cheeky!

Wonderful improvisation from Sergio Aguero. Kevin De Bruyne rolls it into his path on the edge of the area, where he takes a touch before trying a curling effort with the outside of his boot.

Ambitious, but he wasn't far away. Just wide!

Ahhhhh 😧

A glorious chance goes begging!

David Silva fed Gabriel Jesus with a defence-splitting pass, but the Brazilian, who was in oceans of space, paused before shooting and it allowed Lukasz Fabianski to race off his line and force the ball out for a corner.

Opportunity missed!

Business as usual

I say this A LOT, but it always seems to be the case in home games...

The early signs suggest West Ham are content for us to have the ball. They've got 11 men in their own half as we knock it around in midfield.

Michail Antonio is there out ball up top. 

KICK-OFF

Blue moon belted out, coin toss done and we are ready for action here at the Etihad.

David Silva gets us under way as we attack the South Stand in the first half.

STRAIGHT INTO THESE, CITY! 

A good omen! 🔥

Pep - The break's done us good

Here's what the boss had to say before we get under way tonight:

 After 10-12 days without games everyone is ready and fit. We are professionals we want to play games. We had the break and it was good. Few days off with our families and back to business." 

Subs skills

Whilst the starting XI got put through their paces in the warm-up, the substitutes have been engaging in some friendly competition.

It was crossbar challenge first, though none of them had any luck and  John Stones' effort onto the top of the net was the closest anyone came to hitting the woodwork.

Then it was a game of no bounce for Joao Cancelo and Riyad Mahrez, which went on for aaaaaaaaaaages. In the end it was Mahrez who lost out as he let the ball hit the floor.

All done now and they're back in the changing rooms. We're moments away!

A milestone appearance for the Frenchman 👏

Stat pack 📈

🔹 City are on a seven match winning run against West Ham in the Premier League, scoring 23 goals and conceding three.

🔹 Our 5-0 win against the Hammers on the opening day of the season is their heaviest defeat so far.

🔹 Pep Guardiola has won all of his eight meetings against West Ham.

Looking strong 💪

With Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus both included, Pep has plenty of firepower at his disposal this evening.

And at the other end, the defence is reinforced by the Blue Steel that is Aymeric Laporte.

Nicolas Otamendi is next to him at centre-half, with Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker operating at full-back in what looks like a 4-3-3 formation

Rodrigo will be the deepest lying midfielder, with the magical duo of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne ahead of him.

Sergio Aguero will play through the middle of the front three, with Jesus likely to be on the left and Bernardo on the right, giving him the opportunity to cut inside on his favoured left foot.

Changes 🔄

Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the side that lost to Spurs 16 days ago.

On the left side of defence Benjamin Mendy and Aymeric Laporte return in place of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Fernandinho.

Captain David Silva replaces Ilkay Gundogan in midfield, whilst Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus come in for Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez in the forward line.

TEAM NEWS 📋

Here it is, Blues. Your line-up for this evening's game...

XI: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Mendy, Rodrigo, D. Silva (c), De Bruyne, Bernardo, Jesus, Aguero.

SUBS: Bravo, Stones, Cancelo, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Foden, Mahrez.

And here is how the visitor's line-up, with a VERY popular name amongst the substitutes...

XI: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku, Rice, Noble (c), Soucek, Snodgrass, Antonio.

SUBS: Randolph, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Lanzini, Bowen, Anderson, Haller.

The boys are in the building! 🙌 Team news in 5️⃣ minutes!

MUST WATCH! Our greatest ever goal scorer discusses his greatest moments

Super Serge from the spot 12 months ago!

Who's available?

We'll find out the team news in around 30 minutes time, but this is what we know already.

The hamstring injury Raheem Sterling picked up against Spurs should mean he misses out tonight, whilst Oleksandr Zinchenko is suspended after his dismissal against Jose Mourinho's outfit.

For the visitors, Andriy Yarmolenko has not recovered in time, but fellow winger Felipe Anderson is in contention after returning from a back injury. David Moyes could hand a debut to Jarrod Bowen, who joined from Hull in the January transfer window.

Half-time is going to be VERY good tonight! 😆

Get involved 📱

We would love to hear your thoughts this evening. Remember you can get your tweets featured in today's Matchday Centre by using #mancity or #cmoncity on Twitter.

Let us know what you think! 👍

You and I both, Kyle!

Back in action...

It's good to be back, isn't it?

Whilst it was frustrating to miss out on our City fix when this fixture was postponed ten days ago, the players will no doubt have benefited from the extended rest. 

This rearranged game also means we have an additional match closer to next week's huge Champions League tie against Real Madrid, which gives us an extra chance to find our form before the trip to the Spanish capital.

🤞 we can return to action with a win this evening!