Manchester City welcome Sam Allardycea s West Ham United tonight at the Etihad stadium for a crucial encounter in the Premier League. Manuel Pellegrinia s men will look forward to bag a big win in this game against a mediocre Hammersa side and regain their lost form and confidence. They have to get full points in the upcoming games in order to be among the top four or advance further in the league.
Team News& Tactical Brief
Manchester City
Manchester City will miss the services of quite a few key players in todaya s home game against West Ham United. The best defender of the team, Vincent Kompany will miss the game owing to a groin injury. Also James Milner, Gael Clichy, Wilfried Bony and Stefan Jovetic are likely to remain out of this game due to an injury crisis.
Manuel Pellegrinia s men will go all guns blazing in this game after they confronted defeat in back to back Premier League games in the previous weeks. The defeats include a thumping 2-4 at the hands of city rivals Manchester United. Due to a dismal performance in the last month, City have been demoted to the fourth position in the table. They have to bag full points to secure their UEFA Champions League spot and also move ahead in the table.
The Chilean manager is likely to field his team in a 4-4-2 formation, Edin Dzeko accompanying Sergio Aguero. French defender Eliaquim Mangala will replace Kompany in the first team. Bacary Sagna is likely to start ahead of Pablo Zabaletta and Alexander Kolarov in place of injured Clichy. Jesus Navas may get a start ahead Samir Nasri who was not at all impressive against Manchester United last week.
Probable Line-up (4-4-2): Hart; Sagna, Mangala, Demichelis, Kolarov; Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Silva; Dzeko, Aguero
West Ham United
West Ham United will miss the services of striker Diafra Sakho due to a thigh injury. Andy Carroll and centre back, James Tomkins are also out of this fixture to knee and shoulder problems respectively. Colombian international Enner Valencia had some injury issues, but he has recouped properly and ready to start alongside Carlton Cole.
Just like their opponents Manchester City, The Hammers are also having a tough time in the Premier League. In their last 5 league games, Sam Allardycea s men have managed to win just one game and drew once. They also lost against relegation threatened Leicester City earlier this month. Their miseries may continue if City regains their long lost form in this game.
West Ham United will look forward to at least bag a point from this tough away fixture so that they remain among the top 10 side in Premier League by the end of this season.
Probable Line-up (4-1-2-1): Adrian; Jenkinson, Reid, Collins, Creswell; Song; Noble, Kouyate; Downing; Valencia, Cole
Key Stats
- Manchester City have lost 5 games in 2015. They had lost just 4 games in the entire 2014 year.
- Manchester city have won all their last six games against West Ham United in the Premier League
- If West Ham United manages to win tonight, it will be their 250th away win in top flight.
Key Players
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero is the most important player for Manchester City in this game. The Argentine is among the top goal scorers in the league and holds the ability to impose a huge threat on any defense. Manuel Pellegrini will heavily bank upon his star forward to shine and guide the team to a comfortable victory over West Ham United at Etihad stadium. The manager may even assign Edin Dzeko alongside Sergio Aguero so that the attack force gets sharpened. Winston Reid has to keep Aguero under strict vigilance.
Stuart Downing (West Ham United)
Stuart Downing has consistently performed for West Ham United this season. He is among the top assist providers list in the Premier League and has had a dream run this season. Downing is among the best English players this season. Stuart Downing has to be kept under marking by the holding midfielders of Manchester City so that he cannot create the chances for the forwards.
Final Prediction
Manchester City 2 West Ham United 0
Manchester City are obviously the clear favourites in tonighta s encounter. They have home advantage and of course a much better squad than Sam Allardycea s West Ham United. While it is true that Manchester City are having a tough time in the Premier League in the current year, they have the squad worthy of winning turning fortunes at any point of time. It will be an interesting and exciting clash as the two tactical minds, Manuel Pellegrini and Sam Allardyce will come face to face.
