West Ham v Mancester City teamsheets revealed. Both teams are going all out and playing two up front in a game that is sure to see goals…
It’s a surprising battle of the top four today as West Ham host Manchester City. The London side have been one of the surprise packages this season, with in form striker Diafra Sakho a large part of their success.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side are flying high however, and the hosts do not boast a good record against the Premier League champions. With West Ham taking just one point from their last six meetings, Sam Allardyce will no doubt take whatever he can get from this match.
A number of defensive injuries could make the Hammers’ job much harder than it already is, but the news that James Collins has made the squad despite a knock will be a massive boost.
TEAMS: #WHUFC starting XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Reid, Cresswell, Noble (c), Song, Amalfitano, Downing, Valencia, Sakho #WHUMCI
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) October 25, 2014
TEAMS: #WHUFC subs: Jaaskelainen, Kouyate, Vaz Te, O’Brien, Poyet, Cole, Nolan #WHUMCI
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) October 25, 2014
When on a winning streak it is best not to tinker too much, so West Ham have named an unchanged side. They have won three of their last four and have looked extremely strong at home, prompting Allardyce to play two up front with Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho starting the game. This could leave them open to a potent Manchester City strike-force, but if the home side can get at them early then the gamble may pay off.
CITY XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Mangala, Clichy, Toure, Fernando, Navas, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko #westhamvcity pic.twitter.com/hQgZBj3Fb7
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) October 25, 2014
CITY SUBS: Caballero, Kolarov, Demichelis, Sagna, Fernandinho, Jovetic, Milner #westhamvcity
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) October 25, 2014
Manuel Pellegrini has made two changes from the midweek game in Russia, with Gael Clichy and Jesus Navas coming in for Aleksander Kolarov and James Milner. City may miss the industriousness of Milner against a team like West Ham, but Navas has that devastating pace which could cause the Hammers numerous problems. Aguero will be looking to pick up where he left off, and if West Ham aren’t careful they could easily get punished here today.