Looking to complete a league double over Manchester City, West Ham await their arrival at the Boleyn.
In this topsy-turvy Premier League season, the process of evaluating form so as to predict the outcome of an upcoming game has become an exercise in all things farcical. Few teams, Leicester and Spurs notwithstanding, have shown the ability to put together consistent runs for more than a three-or-four game stretch. City, entering this match, have a recent record that reads thusly; loss, win, draw, win, draw, win. An unbeaten run in the last five, sure, but the confident, potent wins over Sunderland and Palace were paired with a loss to Arsenal, and stale, goalless draws with Leicester and Everton. West Ham looked to be surging into good form themselves, on the back of three straight league wins, only to lose to relegation-threatened Newcastle, a match the first half of which was barely contested by the Hammers. The top six is separated by only nine points, so a win for either team – both of which reside in that hallowed zone – would be a real leg-up in what is turning into a sweaty, congested tussle at the pointy end of the league.
Key Battle: Kevin de Bruyne v Dimitri Payet
A £55 million Belgian shouldn’t really be lost from sight, but Kevin de Bruyne, with the face of a cherub and an equally heavenly ability to affect a game of football, has slipped a little beneath the radar. He was bought at obscene expense, and so should be expected to succeed immediately, but still: second in the league for assists, second for key passes, and with five league goals to his name; this is the result of a fine player playing finely. His baby-face belies an exceptionally potent, sharp footballer, who shoots with the accuracy and decisiveness of a military sniper. Between them, de Bruyne and David Silva have created 39 chances in their last five matches, all but one of those games as co-members of the starting XI; it would be safe to assume they are beginning to dovetail nicely, a lovely mixture of Silva’s craft and dribbling, and de Bruyne’s deceptive athleticism and directness.
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West Ham have their own stellar signing, one who was secured for considerably less outlay, and who is only doing slightly worse than de Bruyne. Dimitri Payet, strangely muted last week against Newcastle, will be looking to rise to this grandstand occasion. He has six less assists than the Belgian, but has played nearly as many key passes, having played four fewer matches, and making more than 200 fewer passes overall. There is no denying Payet’s ability to crack open a game, like a machete through an obdurate coconut, as the thirsty West Ham fans eagerly drink in the ambrosial contents. Payet is, however, denied an exquisite pleasure that de Bruyne enjoys, that of playing behind Sergio Aguero. He must make do with Enner Valencia, or even less satisfyingly, Nikica Jelavic. David Sullivan, West Ham’s co-owner, hinted that a striker will be coming in during the transfer window, and the consensus is that this mystery man is Emmanuel Emenike, but this isn’t confirmed. So, Valencia’s movement will have to suffice for Payet in this game, as he looks to outshine his more expensive counterpart.
Team News and Expected Lineups
West Ham recently announced the signing of Sam Byram, a right-sided defender they purchased from Leeds, under heavy competition from Everton. The promise of first-team football was apparently key to the deal going through, and so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Byram replace the slightly-knacked James Tomkins in the starting line up – as good as Tomkins has been lately. With the prospect of Aguero fraying nerves, Bilic might do with shifting the fit-again Winston Reid in to replace the superbly committed, but highly immobile, James Collins for this match. A midfield base of Noble and Obiang, with Payet, Kouyate, and one of either Antonio or Moses ahead of them will support Valencia as the lone striker, surely in for a run-heavy afternoon.
Manchester City are still without oft-injured captain Vincent Kompany for this match, so with Eliaquim Mangala also a doubt, Otamendi and Demichelis start. Fernando will retain his defensive midfielder spot, and Yaya Toure will probably re-enter the starting line up, having come off the bench last week, with Delph making way. Silva, de Bruyne and Aguero will all remain in place, and Raheem Sterling – who played no part in the Palace victory – may replace Iheanacho; a swirling attacking line, making runs from deeper areas, is surely the way to disrupt what is certain to be a deep-lying, organised West Ham defence.
Head-to-Head and Previous Meeting
West Ham have won 37 times against Manchester City, drawing 16 times, and losing 48 times. Over the last few years, however, Manchester City have firmly held dominance, losing just three times in the 14 meetings since 2009. The last match was earlier this season, a raucous 2-1 West Ham victory at the Etihad. City were stunned by two early goals, one of which was a Victor Moses cracker. Despite de Bruyne pulling one back from distance, and a remarkable peppering of the West Ham goal in the second half, the away side held on, just. The Hammers were indebted to Adrian in that match, as well as Winston Reid; both will need to put in similarly excellent performances to stop City again.
Prediction
West Ham will not complete a double over Liverpool AND City this season, and will lose here, 2-0.
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