West Ham United vs Manchester City
Date: 24/11/2018
K/O: 15.00
Venue: London Stadium
Referee: Andre Marriner
West Ham welcome Manchester City to the London Stadium buoyed by the return to action of Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere.
Carroll could make his first appearance of the season on Saturday, while Wilshere could feature for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery in September.
Manchester City will be without Benjamin Mendy as the Frenchman recovers from corrective knee surgery, and Bernardo Silva is considered a doubt and may not be rushed back to fitness.
Pep Guardiola has no other fresh concerns, but will again be without Claudio Bravo and Kevin De Bruyne as the duo recover from longer term setbacks.
West Ham entered the international break having drawn away to Huddersfield, and are unbeaten in their last three Premier League matches.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side have improved gradually as the season has developed. After losing their first four games, The Hammers have picked up 12 points from their last eight fixtures as they aim to climb up the table.
Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic have been the dangermen so far, with Anderson looking sharper each game as he adapts to the Premier League following his big money summer move from Lazio.
Other signings are also beginning to integrate into the team well. Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena are now established partners in central defence, in front of Lukasz Fabianski in goal.
Pablo Zabaleta will continue at right back after Ryan Fredericks was ruled out until 2019, with Aaron Cresswell on the left and academy graduate Declan Rice midfield alongside Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang.
Pellegrini must choose how to set up his side in attack, with the Hammers unlikely to see much of the ball. Marko Arnautovic is expected to get the nod as a lone striker ahead of Javier Hernandez, with Felipe Anderson expected to be reduced to a deeper role.
Jack Wilshere may be thrust immediately back into the action in midfield if Pellegrini decides to sacrifice a wide player, with Grady Diangana likely to be benched.
Manuel Lanzini and Carlos Sanchez join Ryan Fredericks as long term absentees, but Winston Reid is nearing a return after three months out.
It is likely that this weekend will be too soon for Reid, but Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere will both make the matchday squad. Robert Snodgrass is suspended.
Pep Guardiola also has a number of injuries blighting his squad. Benjamin Mendy will be out for an unspecified period, while Bernardo Silva is unlikely to be fit to start this weekend. Claudio Bravo, Kevin De Bruyne and Eliaquim Mangala remain longer term problems.
Ederson will continue in goal behind Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, with Pep Guardiola having to choose between Fabian Delph, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Danilo to deputise in place of Mendy on the left.
Fernandinho and David Silva will start in midfield, with Ilkay Gundogan set to come in for Bernardo Silva if the Portuguese fails to recover in time.
In form Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling will again start either side of Sergio Aguero, with Leroy Sane again set to feature from the bench.
Few expect West Ham to end City’s unbeaten start to the season, but fans have a flicker of hope having already won four points from Manchester United and Chelsea at the London Stadium this season.
With Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic firing on all cylinders and the aerial prowess of Andy Carroll available from the bench once again, a clinical attacking display could see a shock on the cards.
Predicted Starting XI’s
West Ham United (4-3-2-1): Fabianski; Zabaleta, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell; Rice, Noble, Obiang; Anderson, Wilshere; Arnautovic
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Danilo; Gundogan, Fernandinho, D. Silva; Sterling, Aguero, Mahrez
Predicted Score: West Ham United 1 Manchester City 3
