LONDON, Sporting Alert – The starting line-ups and team news for today’s English Premier League season opener for Manchester City and West Ham United at London Stadium.
Watch live streaming coverage of this game on NBCSports.com. For viewers in the United States, NBCSN will have live television coverage starting at 7:30 am ET. Follow live text commentary and live scores
This game kicks-off a very busy Saturday, as the defending champions look to stay close to rivals Liverpool after their 4-1 win over the newly-promoted Norwich to get the season underway on Friday.
For Manchester City, manager Pep Guardiola has decided to start this time with a natural striker after going with three attacking midfielders in the Community Shield last weekend.
Guardiola hands Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus to starting nod ahead of Sergio Aguero, who will start the Premier League new season on the bench.
Midfield star Bernardo Silva is also on the bench, but summer recruit Rodri makes his Premier League debut from the opening minutes.
Fellow new signing Joao Cancelo will be on the bench to start this one.
Elsewhere for Manchester City, John Stones is preferred to Nicolas Otamendi at center-back Aymeric Laporte. Winger Leroy Sane, who has suffered cruciate ligament damage is out for the Citizens, but Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling both start.
David Silva will be the captain for the defending champs.
Meanwhile, for West Ham, summer recruit Sebastien Haller makes his debut, following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, fellow new signing Pablo Fornals is on the bench, but is expected to make his debut in the second half.
Issa Diop, captain Aaron Cresswell, experienced midfielders Jack Wilshere and Michail Antonio, as well as attackers Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson all start for West Ham United.
West Ham United Team: Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell, Wilshere, Rice, Antonio, Lanzini, Anderson, Haller. Subs: Jimenez, Zabaleta, Chicharito, Snodgrass, Sanchez, Fornals, Ogbonna
Manchester City Team: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, David Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne, Sterling, Mahrez, Jesus. Subs: Bravo, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden, Aguero
