There is one notable absence from the touchline as West Ham United play Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday night.
Indeed, in what could be his last-ever trip to east London given so much speculation about his future, Pep Guardiola has been banned from the touchline for West Ham United versus Man City.
The City boss was handed a yellow card during his side’s FA Cup win over Newcastle earlier this month, which took him up to six bookings for the season.
Optimist or Realist? Share your number and defend it in the comments
As such, Guardiola was given a two-match ban by the Football Association (FA), although it does not apply to European competition or domestic cup finals.
Guardiola, then, will be on the touchline for the Carabao Cup final later this month.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a good record against Guardiola, so it will be fascinating to see how that impacts Saturday’s game.
Pep Lijnders to take charge of Manchester City vs West Ham
There will be a relatively familiar face barking instructions at the City players, however.
Pep Lijnders, who worked as Jurgen Klopp’s assistant at Liverpool across two spells before leaving Anfield in 2024, will oversee the game.
Kolo Toure is also part of the City coaching staff and will be on hand to assist against West Ham.
Pep Guardiola’s record at the London Stadium
Guardiola has never lost a league match at the London Stadium.
In his ten Premier League games in east London, Guardiola has won eight times, while drawing the other two.
The City boss did, however, taste defeat in a Carabao Cup fourth round penalty shootout loss in Stratford in October 2021.
It is a huge game at both ends of the Premier League table. If City drop any points, they will fall even further behind Arsenal in the title race.
Three points for West Ham, however, would lift them out of the relegation zone for the first time since late November.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
