West Ham have a 100% away record in this season's Premier League.
Barclays Premier League
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Venue: Etihad Stadium Date: Saturday, 19 September |
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany misses out with the calf injury he suffered in the defeat by Juventus but Sergio Aguero is fit.
Samir Nasri will not be risked after taking a kick in midweek.
West Ham's Angelo Ogbonna is out with a hamstring injury, while Joey O'Brien (calf), Alex Song (ankle) and Enner Valencia (knee) are also out.
Mauro Zarate and Pedro Obiang are hoping to overcome hamstring and ankle problems respectively.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
Steve Wilson: "With rare away wins at Arsenal and Liverpool already under their belts, West Ham can travel to European under-achievers Manchester City with a spring in their step.
"However, West Ham's journey home might be rather less jaunty as Manchester City have won their last 11 Premier League games – the joint-third longest winning streak in the league's history – and haven't conceded a league goal in approaching 10 hours.
"Add to that West Ham's fairly hopeless recent record at the Etihad – seven consecutive defeats, three goals scored and 20 conceded – and the odds would appear to be heavily in the home side's favour."
Twitter: @SteveWilson1967
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "It is always serious having injured players, especially the captain and especially in a moment when we didn't concede any goals in the first five games.
"I think it is important to carry on playing with the same names but I always say we have a squad.
"It is important for Nicolas Otamendi to have his opportunity to demonstrate why he is here and Martin Demichelis to return to his performance of last season. We have a squad and we need to replace the captain."
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "I would have loved Man City to win that game against Juventus, they probably feel a little bit like they need to respond.
"It's going to be more up to them how the game is going to be played because they have that quality.
"But we are confident. Some people say it's a bonus game for West Ham – it's not a bonus game. I would be very disappointed if we don't play good or don't get anything from that game."
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
They have won at Arsenal and Liverpool, so I'm not sure I can tip West Ham to get beaten at Etihad Stadium with their away form so far this season.
I am going to, though. Dimitri Payet looks a very good player for the Hammers, but will he see enough of the ball to hurt Manchester City? I would argue the answer is no.
Lawro's full predictions against England cricket star Stuart Broad
- Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Manchester City have won their last seven home meetings with West Ham, including six in the league.
- City have scored a combined 10 goals without reply on the last three occasions they have hosted the Hammers in all competitions.
Manchester City
- Manchester City could win their opening six matches of a top-flight season for the first time.
- City are enjoying a club record 11-match winning streak in the league. Only Arsenal (14) and Manchester United (12) have ever had longer winning runs in the Premier League.
- Manuel Pellegrini's side are also on a club league record run of six consecutive clean sheets.
- They have won nine consecutive home matches in the Premier League, keeping eight clean sheets in the process.
West Ham
- West Ham have won both of their away matches so far in this season's Premier League, without conceding a goal.
- The Hammers are looking to win three successive Premier League away games for the first time since September 2007.
- Dimitri Payet has had a hand in 11 goals (scored four, assisted seven) in his last 13 league appearances for West Ham and Marseille combined.