This all feels a little bit subdued so far. West Ham haven't really had a look-in but Man City are being patient in their build-up play.

A few minutes of build-up play from the visitors but they haven't managed to get the ball where they want to. They're easing their way into this one.

Image source, Reuters

Right, that was a lot of corners. City opt for a short one this time instead and it's cleared by West Ham and the visitors will build again.

And another from that one...

Alex Greenwood plays in a great corner which is tipped away by Mackenzie Arnold and guess what? It's another corner.

And another.

City go forwards early on as Chloe Kelly forces a corner. That's saved and we'll have another.

We are under way

A minute's applause takes place ahead of kick-off in memory of David Gold, the former West Ham joint chairman who passed away last week.

Image source, PA Media

The teams are out in Dagenham.

How do you think this one will end up? Hit the thumbs up for a City win, thumbs down for a West Ham win.

One player who Manchester City will have to be wary of this evening is West Ham's Dagny Brynjarsdottir.

She's scored five goals across her 10 games for the Irons this season, the most of any player at her club.

The 31-year-old Iceland midfielder is perhaps most threatening in the air and could cause problems for City from set-pieces.

Image source, Getty Images

Going a month without competitive action over Christmas drew differing reactions from coaches in the past week, with some saying they were kicking their heels waiting for a return.

West Ham manager Paul Konchesky, speaking before today's match, said: "It feels like a long time off, it has been itchy feet, I've never had so long off.

"To be honest, the break has been too long, I would have liked to have played in the week just gone to get us in earlier. But sometimes rest is best, giving the girls family time, now we have a lot of games. The players are regenerated."

Manchester City's 2022 ended on a high in front of 44,259 fans at the Etihad Stadium, though they failed to beat neighbours Manchester United and were held to a 1-1 draw.

Despite that, they remain on a 10-game unbeaten streak in all competitions and will be looking to continue that run in their first game of the calendar year this evening.

They're unbeaten in their last seven WSL games and have conceded only four times in that period.

Image source, Manchester City FC

The two sides last met back in April 2022 on Chloe Kelly's return for Manchester City after her ACL injury.

City's 4-1 win booked them a spot in last season's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Want a bit of a throwback to the (not so distant) past? Watch the highlights of that game back here:

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor ahead of the game, speaking to Sky Sports: "We look at what we can do, what we can control. I think you've seen with Arsenal and Chelsea drawing it brings everything back into play. All we have to do is concentrate on ourselves."

On what Paul Konchesky brings to West Ham: "Honesty, a bit of quality. That's what he was like as a player and he's a chap who likes to play football in the right way. We'll have to work really hard to get anything out of the game. Once we get a decent performance it gives us an opportunity to win the game."

On his changes in defence: "I think if you're comparing [teams], you're comparing to a month ago. Players have had two weeks of training and preparation. We have had a couple of niggles over the last couple of days. Kerstin [Casparij] is not available. Alanna [Kennedy] is a very good option for us."

West Ham United

West Ham manager Paul Konchesky, speaking to Sky Sports: "We give them respect but not too much. We have to worry about ourselves, when we do that we're good and when we play on the front foot we're good. We've worked hard this week and know how to handle their strengths and their weaknesses as well."

On Lisa Evans' introduction: She's got a number of games under her belt. She gives us a lot going forward and defensively as well. She's another senior head."

On competing with teams at the top end of the table: "We've come a long way. The record is not great. We want to better that and hopefully we can do that today. We feel we're closing the gap now we feel we can compete against the bigger teams for longer in the game."

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If there's one thing that West Ham will need to do if they are to get a result tonight, it's stopping the goalscoring antics of Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw.

Jamaica striker Shaw has eight goals in nine WSL appearances for Manchester City this season, just one fewer than she managed in 17 games last term and only one behind Rachel Daly, the division's top scorer.

Her work has led to City scoring more headed goals than any other WSL side this season (7). Four have been scored by Shaw, more than any other player.

Image source, NurPhoto

Since the start of the 2018-19 campaign, Man City have only failed to score in six of their 44 WSL away games.

What connects all six of those games, you may wonder? Each has been against a side from London (3 vs Arsenal, 3 vs Chelsea).

Manchester City defender Kerstin Casparij joined the club from Twente in the summer and the 22-year-old Netherlands international has become a mainstay in Gareth Taylor's team.

She spoke to The Football News Show about moving to Manchester, her experience so far this season, and why she feels City are "building something special".

Watch here: