Unbeaten Manchester City host the Irons on Saturday, and to get some more insight on the opposition, we spoke to Josh Lawless from Read Man City and got his views on the upcoming clash.
1) Following their midweek defeat in the Champions League, what sort of approach can we expect from Manchester City this weekend?
‘I think City will be fired up. I can’t imagine they will be complacent at all and will be keen to put that Juventus game behind them. They will be positive and try and be a bit more clinical, something which was a major problem midweek.‘
2) Will the likes of Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero be fully fit for the encounter?
‘Kompany has trained on his own if reports are to believed, but his calf injury has played down. Silva and Aguero seem fine so I would expect both to start.‘
3) Does the fact that West Ham beat the Citizens this time last year unnerve you at all?
‘I’m not so sure it unnerves me but I think it does it mean that we’re not taking West Ham lightly. In that game at Upton Park last year, West Ham caused City lots of problems but City are a different team this time around and should be able to cope.‘
4) Which player is likely to provide the most threat to the Hammers’ back-line?
‘I really think this game is going to see De Bruyne get his home league debut and have the stage to really make an impression, though he has been fairly bright so far. I think he is definitely someone West Ham will look to isolate, as is Sergio Aguero, who will be hungrier than ever after that injury at Palace.‘
5) Do you expect Manuel Pellegrini’s men to keep a sixth consecutive domestic clean sheet?
‘I do think this is the game our clean slate in terms of clean sheets will end. Even with the Juve game considered, I still think we have looked solid at the back but would fancy West Ham to score at the Etihad, having seen the two previous away results.‘
6) And finally Josh, what is your score prediction for the game?
‘I’ll go for 2-1 City. A tight, tough game for City but they’ll still claim the all-important three points.‘
