These two teams like to play attacking football with pace and that could well be reflected on the scoreline.
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The midfielder has missed the last three games due to a muscle injury but returned to training this week and has been passed fit for the match in London by boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Samir Nasri, Eliaquim Mangala, Aleksandar Kolarov and Wilfried Bony are all out.
The Chilean has had a pretty good season by most standards, helping City win their Champions League group for the first time in their history as well as navigating their way to the League Cup semi-final and the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The home side are on a great fun of form at Upton Park heading into this fixture, unbeaten in their last eight in the league.
Despite widespread rumours that he is to be replaced in the summer-fuelled by Guardiola’s comments that he is leaving current club Bayern Munich because he wants “to coach in [the] Premier League”-Pellegrini’s reputation has only been enhanced while at City”.
“I hope that will continue, with us scoring goals”.
As for City, Yaya Toure was rested for the 4-0 win over Crystal Palace last time out, but the Ivorian midfielder is expected to return for the clash along with Raheem Sterling.
What may stand in City’s favour away from home is that West Ham seem powerless at defending set pieces, which happens to be one of City’s fortes.
West Ham halted City’s five-match 100 per cent start to the Premier League season with a battling 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in September.
Diafra Sakho has scored the winning goal in each of West Ham’s last two wins over the Citizens. Only West Bromwich Albion’s starting XI (29y 239d) is older on average.
The adding of experienced players has elevated these player’s performances and made them some of the most sought after in the Premier League. Fresh from a stint on the sidelines with a heel injury, the Argentine scored the victor at Watford and he has found the net four times in his last five appearances in all competitions.
Obviously, telling the future is impossible, but watching the race for the Champions League will be one of the most exciting stories over the coming years and whether or not West Ham make it is up in the air, but they should at least compete.
Manchester City, as we all know, are filled with superstars all throughout the park. But they have to contend with Aguero who, for me, is the best centre-forward in the world, alongside Luis Suarez.
“I have no regrets about joining Man City”.
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That was only West Ham’s second victory against City in the previous 13 encounters between the teams.
