Last season’s runners-up visit the Boleyn ground on Saturday and will be looking for three points as they expect most games. However, City’s away form has not been up to scratch as far and West Ham are bouncing after a 3-0 win away at White Hart Lane last week.
City comfortably saw off Everton in their last fixture at the Etihad stadium. Their home form has been superb, headlined by the 4-1 win against arch-rivals Manchester United. They have also seen off Hull City and Newcastle United at home.
In stark contrast their away form has left a lot to be desired. They have yet to find an away win, their only away point was a 0-0 draw away at Stoke City. They have suffered two 3-2 defeats at the hands of Cardiff City and Aston Villa.
This would give any host an unexpected amount of confidence against the 2011/12 Premier League winners.
Despite this Manchester City are always capable of producing a different class performance. With attacking options of Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, and Edin Dzeko at their disposal, goals are always expected, if not delivered.
Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure has been in fantastic form so far this season with 4 goals so far. Focus on the three strikers at your peril, with David Silva, Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri, also able to score and create many a goal.
City on paper are one of, if not, THE best side in the Premier League, however, a game is not played on paper. The away form will certainly give West Ham confidence which is already at a season high.
TEAM NEWS
Andy Carroll and Alou Diarra remain unavailable for this clash for West Ham along with James Collins who picked up an injury on international duty in mid-week . As for City, just two possible absentees for Manchester City with Martin Demichelis out and Vincent Kompany a doubt after missing international duty mid-week.
Joleon Lescott is likely to take Kompany’s place at the back and that is expected to be the only change to the Man City line-up that beat Everton 3-1 pre-international break. That would leave James Milner in the starting 11, ahead of Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri.
Alvaro Negredo is likely to lead the line with Edin Dzeko on the bench and Aguero sitting in behind the Spaniard.
As for West Ham, James Tomkins will remain at centre-back with Winston Reid. Whether the formation changes from the almost 4-6-0 against Tottenham Hotspur, is not yet known. It is however likely that with the success of that style, Sam Allardyce will favour no striker over Modibo Maiga, Mladen Petric and the newly re-signed Carlton Cole.
LIKELY LINE-UPS
West Ham
Jaaskelainen
Rat – Reid – Tomkins – Demel
Morrison – Noble
Diame – Nolan – Downing
Vaz Te
Manchester City
Hart
Zabaleta – Nastasic – Lescott – Kolarov
Fernandinho – Toure
Milner – Aguero – Silva
Negredo
