Man City vs West Ham preview
PIC: @dimpayet17 will be looking to continue his fine form against @MCFC this weekend. #WHUFC #COYI pic.twitter.com/2mKXE8xjur
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) September 17, 2015
Manchester City team news
Sergio Aguero (knee) featured in the last seven minutes of the 1-2 defeat to Juventus and is expected to return to City’s starting line-up.
Kompany may miss out because of a calf problem he picked up in that Champions League encounter.
Pablo Zabaleta (knee), Fabian Delph (hamstring), Fernando (groin) and Gael Clichy (ankle) are all expected to miss out.
West Ham United team news
Mauro Zarate returned to full training after a spell on the sidelines because of a hamstring problem. He is unlikely to be involved though.
Angelo Ogbonna is expected to miss a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury he picked up last time out.
Alex Song is still recovering from an ankle injury while Enner Valencia remains a long-term absentee with a knee complaint.
Pedro Obiang is expected to shake of an ankle problem in time to make the travelling squad.
Manchester City vs West Ham United prediction
Nicolas Otamendi could be handed his Premier League debut should Kompany miss out, while Fernandinho and Toure are expected to continue as the central midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation for City.
Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling may start as the wide attacking midfielders, drifting infield to float between the lines and offer a threat in behind, while David Silva assumes a free role as the central attacking midfielder behind Aguero.
Carl Jenkinson could be the only player to make it into the Hammers’ starting XI, with James Tomkins replacing the injured Ogbonna at the heart of West Ham’s defence. The Hammers could set up in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, which will mostly be a compact 4-5-1 defensive formation when City attack.
Slaven Bilic may task Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate to double-pivot in front of the back-four, which allows the Hammers’ front-four to safely express themselves on the break.
Victor Moses may retain his place as an inverted winger, keeping the width down the left flank while Manuel Lanzini drifts in off the right flank to join Payet in working behind Diafra Sakho.
This will be a tough game for City because West Ham will have had a full week of preparation so they will be fresher, plus Bilic’s men have repeatedly proven themselves capable of frustrating big teams before playing on the counter.
City are probably the team in the Premier League best equipped to open up the Hammers, with the likes of Silva, De Bruyne and Toure operating behind Aguero. That means Pellegrini’s men could just have enough to extend their winning streak.
Score prediction
Manchester City 1-0 West Ham United.
