match preview

West Ham United v Manchester City

theguardian 

A critical and very difficult match for City, who crave a win in the early kick-off to edge closer to Chelsea before the league leaders game at Old Trafford. City were guilty of slipping into slackness in the second half of their Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow in midweek, and West Ham are as capable as the Russians of punishing them if they relapse. West Hams defence has been excellent all season but the in-form Sergio Agüero will give them their biggest test; though in Diafra Sakho and Enner Valenica, the Hammers have top strikers of their own. A fascinating contest is in store. Paul Doyle




Kick-off Saturday 12.45pm

Venue Upton Park

Last season West Ham 1 Man City 3

Live BT Sport 1

Referee M Atkinson

This season G7, Y31, R0, 4.43 cards per game

Odds H 11-2 A 4-7 D 10-3

West Ham United

Subs from Jaaskelainen, Spiegel, Tomkins, Potts, Burke, OBrien, Kouyaté, Poyet, Nolan, Cole, Vaz Tê, Jarvis, Zárate

Doubtful OBrien (knee), Zárate (knock)

Injured Carroll (knee, Nov), Demel (thigh, unknown)

Suspended None

Form LDWLWW

Discipline Y18 R1

Leading scorer Sakho 5

Manchester City

Subs from Caballero, Wright, Nastasic, Boyata, Sinclair, Sagna, Fernandinho, Milner, Demichelis, Jovetic, Fernando, Clichy, Bytyqi, Pozo

Doubtful None

Injured Nasri (groin, 1 Nov), Lampard (thigh, 8 Nov)

Suspended None

Form LDDWWW

Discipline Y20 R1

Leading scorer Agüero 9