West Brom v Man City: Sterling Silva (and Aguero) to produce priceless performance

West Brom v Manchester City
Monday, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports 1

West Brom

The Baggies finished 13th in the table last season after Tony Pulis arrived at the club mid-season and repeated his survival antics for the second year running (previously with Crystal Palace).

Pulis' men finished the season strongly, winning three and drawing two of their final six matches in a sequence of results that saw them beat Chelsea, Manchester United, and draw with Liverpool, without conceding a single goal.

Having brought in James Chester from Hull for £8m West Brom will again look to be strong defensively under Pulis, while the acquisitions of James McClean and Rickie Lambert will provide further options to the manager in midfield and attack. Indeed Lambert could prove to be an excellent signing for a side that likes to get the ball forward quickly.

You sense that the Baggies will be a tough nut to crack at The Hawthorns this term; they beat the likes of top-10 sides Swansea, Southampton, and Stoke (again, without conceding) as soon as Pulis arrived and they'll be confident now that they can take points from the big boys on home soil when it matters most.

Man City

It rather went a bit unnoticed that in finishing runners-up last season City ended their campaign with six straight victories, averaging exactly three goals scored per game in that spell.

Their squad remains largely the same as in 2014-15, though £49m summer capture Raheem Sterling from Liverpool is the obvious exception and brings huge potential to an already very talented side. Fabian Delph has also arrived from Aston Villa but you get the feeling he will be used sparingly in the Premier League.

Manuel Pellegrini remains the man in charge at the Etihad Stadium, much to many people's surprise, and the Chilean even put pen to paper on an extended contract on Friday, dispelling the general belief that he would be walking a tightrope in the early part of this campaign.

You still feel that Pellegrini and his team must start the season well however if we're to buy into the belief that all is well in Manchester and the manager has his players and the fans firmly on his side. A few early defeats and Pellegrini's boat will almost certainly be rocking once more.

Match Odds

I'm sure many will be tempted by the 6.00 on offer about a home win here - I was myself, for about two minutes - but the more I look at this game and the circumstances leading up to it the more I can't see beyond a Man City victory.

The Baggies have to respected, of course they do. They ought to be a stronger side this term than they were last, they will be extremely well organsed, and The Hawthorns will be bouncing for a Monday night season-opener. They have a lot going for them.

What they don't have going for them however is the quality that this Man City side possess.

The prospect of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho controlling the middle of the park, and Sterling, David Silva, and Samir Nasri being let loose behind Sergio Aguero is quite frankly frightening. That's a very tempting line-up.

As mentioned earlier City clicked towards the end of last term, winning six straight league games, and they've also won the last seven meetings with Albion, scoring 19 goals in the process. And with Chelsea being held to a draw on Saturday I'm now fully expecting Pellegrini's men to go out and stamp their authority on this game, and land the short odds of 1.71.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

Recent meetings between these two have always produced goals and I see no reason why that should change on Monday night.

A packed Hawthorns should generate a great atmosphere and the Baggies will be keen to show their intent from the off. But City have a golden opportunity to open up an early five point lead over Chelsea (win here and beat the Blues at home next week) and I really fancy theirimpressive attack to go for the jugular also.

We look set to be in for a very exciting goal-filled game - Over 2.5 Goals can be backed at 1.86- and with the last three meetings between these two at the Hawthorns producing exactly four goals per game (as well as the last four meetings home and away) I'm willing to chance my arm on Over 3.5 Goals at 3.20.

To Score

While Ageuro is rightly so the favourite to score the first goal of the game or at any time during the match, odds of 2/1 (Sportsbook) about Sterling capping his competitive Man City debutwith a goal really appeal.

The 20-year-old scored within three minutes of his 'friendly' debut against Roma, and added two more in a 8-1 victory over Vietnam. In a game where I can see the away side creating many chances I'd be surprised if at least a few don't fall to the near-£50m man.

Recommended Bets

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.20
Back Raheem Sterling To Score @ 2/1