Manchester City v West Ham United
Having been soundly beaten by a struggling Everton in midweek, West Ham could be forgiven for approaching their next outing with a sense of dread. The London club have slipped into the relegation places, while Manchester City continue to sweep all before them, a late win against Southampton on Wednesday helping them to maintain their eight-point cushion at the top of the table.
Pep Guardiola’s men have been simply sensational in attack, scoring a frankly ridiculous 44 goals in their 14 matches to date. Furthermore, their return of 40 points from those fixtures is – according to the Opta tweet below – the joint-best tally ever at this stage of a top-flight campaign, equalling a mark set by Tottenham back in 1960/61.
Winning their last 11 Premier League outings, City have made the most of the Spanish boss’ tactical lessons, their 4-3-3 framework allowing them to retain possession or strike on the counter attack with equal aplomb. Their prowess at set pieces has also been vastly improved, while it seems to matter little who Guardiola opts to start, the team functioning just as well when he opts to rest players.
West Ham have leaked goals almost as regularly as their opponents here have scored them, the defence continuing to look as porous under new boss David Moyes as it did under his predecessor Slaven Bilic. Players like Angelo Ogbonna and Joe Hart – who will be suspended here – keep making huge mistakes, their concentration failing in key moments, a goalkeeper and defender who have the potential to be so much better almost always costing the Hammers points.
Yet thanks to the fact his side have already secured top spot in their Champions League group, Guardiola will be able to field a full strength starting XI here, their next European outing allowing a pressure free environment in which he can send out his reserves. John Stones and Benjamin Mendy are the long-term absentees, meaning Nicolas Otamendi is likely to partner Vincent Kompany once again in central defence, while Gabriel Jesus could get the nod in attack after Sergio Aguero played the last two games.
Leroy Sane is their only other doubt, while West Ham face a worryingly long injury list. Jose Fonte will be missing from the under-fire backline until January, and news that striker Javier Hernandez is a doubt with a hamstring problem will not help David Moyes as he searches for his first win. The Mexican international could make it back, while the same is also true of full-back Sam Byram as he battles to recover from a thigh strain of his own as Winston Reid, James Collins and Andy Carroll all face late fitness tests.
Probable Lineups
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Kompany, Delph; Silva, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Sané, Gabriel Jesus, Sterling
West Ham United (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Zabaleta, Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Kouyate, Obiang; Antonio, Lanzini, Arnautovic; Sakho
