West Ham United journey to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face an in-form Manchester Metropolis aspect.
The Hammers arrive in Manchester on the again of a dangerous 3-2 house defeat, a consequence that prolonged their winless run.
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West Ham are rooted within the relegation zone heading into the festive interval.
The Irons are actually 18th within the desk, three factors adrift of security, and defeat this weekend would assure they spend Christmas inside the underside three.
Sadly for Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo, he should put together for one of many hardest fixtures in English soccer with a depleted squad and mounting stress.
Match preview
Because the finish of October, Man Metropolis have taken issues up a notch.
‘s aspect have gained 10 of their final 12 matches throughout all competitions and are again within the title race.
Metropolis prolonged their profitable run to 6 video games in mid-week by beating Brentford 2-0 to succeed in the EFL Cup semi-finals.
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They sit simply two factors behind leaders Arsenal and will briefly transfer to the highest with a victory earlier than the Gunners face Everton afterward Saturday.
West Ham, against this, are struggling for momentum.
Since Nuno’s arrival, the Hammers have picked up simply two wins from 11 Premier League video games, with a five-match winless run holding them entrenched at risk.
Nonetheless, there’s some encouragement on the highway for the East London aspect.
West Ham are unbeaten of their final three away league matches, drawing all three, and twice taking the lead earlier than being pegged again.
Match stats
Man Metropolis are unbeaten of their final 19 Premier League conferences with West Ham (W16, D3), profitable every of the final 5 whereas scoring at the very least three objectives in each match.
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West Ham have misplaced 15 of their final 16 Premier League away video games towards Metropolis, conceding two or extra objectives on 13 events.
Metropolis have gained seven consecutive house league video games since their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and have collected extra house factors than any aspect since April.
If West Ham are to defy historical past, they may want self-discipline, construction, and no scarcity of resilience.
Staff information
West Ham can be with out Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf, each away on Africa Cup of Nations obligation with Senegal and DR Congo.
Niclas Fullkrug and Lukasz Fabianski are minor doubts and can be assessed nearer to kick-off.
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Nuno will doubtless follow a again three towards Metropolis. Kyle Walker-Peters, who brings , is in competition to start out at wing-back alongside 20-year-old Oliver Scarles.
Walker-Peters has the unenviable job of curbing the .
Count on to see Max Kilman within the beginning XI alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo, shielding Alphonse Areola in purpose.
In midfield, Soungoutou Magassa and Freddie Potts are anticipated to retain their locations after beginning towards Aston Villa.
In the meantime, Matheus Fernandes continues in a sophisticated function alongside the underwhelming Lucas Paqueta.
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Jarrod Bowen is predicted to steer the road, with Callum Wilson more likely to accept a spot on the bench.
West Ham predicted line-up (3-4-2-1)
Alphonse Areola; Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman; Kyle Walker-Peters, Soungoutou Magassa, Freddie Potts, Oliver Scarles; Lucas Paqueta, Matheus Fernandes; Jarrod Bowen.