The best attack in the Premiership meets the worst defence as struggling West Ham travel to league leaders Man City this weekend. It’s the beginning of a tough set of fixtures for the Hammers, with Chelsea and Arsenal waiting for them at the London Stadium after their trip to the Etihad.
The Hammers were thrashed 4-0 by manager David Moyes’ former team Everton in midweek, with Wayne Rooney scoring his first hat trick at Goodison Park since his return from Manchester United.
The visitors were left ruing a crucial penalty miss from star playmaker Manuel Lanzini, who had his spot kick saved by the impressive Jordan Pickford when Everton were 2-0 ahead. But there were few positives to take home from the game, with the four goals conceded giving the Irons the unwanted tag of having the worst defence in the league.
The Hammers are third from bottom only because Swansea and Palace, the two teams below them, are in even worse form. However Palace have shown some signs of revival in recent weeks, picking up five points from their last three games (after having taken only four from their first 11).
Joe Hart, the man who has been in goal for most of West Ham’s season, is unavailable this weekend owing to the terms of his loan contract, meaning that Spanish stopper Adrian will start against City.
Since Pep Guardiola took over at the Etihad, West Ham’s record against the Citizens has been decidedly pedestrian. City have beaten them 3-0 and 3-1 at home, and 4-0 and 5-0 away in Guardiola’s tenure so far. If you’re looking for help for picking winners, there would only seem to be one team capable of winning on Sunday. It appears to be a question of how many West Ham would lose by, rather than if.
The referee for this game is Mike Dean, who was also the referee when West Ham produced that incredible comeback in the League Cup to eliminate Spurs a few weeks ago.
Guardiola’s side have been in imperious form this season, picking up 40 points from 14 games. The only game they’ve dropped points against was Everton- it’s otherwise been a 100% start to the season for the Spaniard. They edged Southampton in midweek thanks to a stunning stoppage time winner from Raheem Sterling, who seems to have made a habit of scoring important late goals this season.
City took the lead against Southampton through Nicolas Otamendi and would’ve perhaps strolled this game if not for a set of impressive saves by Saints keeper Fraser Forster. It seemed they would need something special to get past him, and Sterling’s superb curled effort was worthy of a winner for any game.
Man City form
Man City 3-1 Arsenal
Leicester 0-2 Man City
Man City 1-0 Feyenoord
Huddersfield 1-2 Man City
Man City 2-1 Southampton
West Ham form
Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham
West Ham 1-4 Liverpool
Watford 2-0 West Ham
Leicester 1-1 West Ham
Everton 4-0 West Ham
Game kicks off at 4pm on December 3, 2017.