West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester City. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance24,003.
Saturday 28 October 2017 14:12, UK
West Brom will be without defender Craig Dawson when they face Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday.
Dawson has been ruled out for around two months after suffering thigh and knee injuries in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton last weekend.
That loss continued a poor run of form for West Brom that has seen them fail to win since August 19.
In a bid to turn things around, manager Tony Pulis says he plans to try something different against City, who had scored in every game this season before they were held by Wolves in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
"We'll approach it a little bit different to normal," he said. "I won't say how we'll do it or not do it.
"For me this is what it's all about. Pitting yourself against the best. For West Bromwich Albion to be in a position to be playing, at the moment, the best team in Europe, at The Hawthorns is absolutely fantastic and everybody should go down there and relish it."
City have scored 32 goals in the Premier League this season and go into the weekend five points clear at the top of the table.
Allan Nyom is likely to be recalled in Dawson's absence for West Brom.
Jonny Evans, a transfer target for City this summer, and Gareth Barry, a former City player, are both expected to be available despite being forced off at St Mary's with injuries, while Hal Robson-Kanu is back in training after a muscle problem but James Morrison (Achilles) is out.
Ilkay Gundogan could be a doubt for City after suffering cramp in the midweek win over Wolves.
West Bromwich Albion have lost 14 of their last 15 Premier League games against Manchester City (D1), including losing the last 11 in a row.
There have only been two longer winning runs against a single opponent in Premier League history than Manchester City's 11-game run versus West Brom: Man City vs Newcastle (12 wins ending in October 2015) and Man Utd vs Wigan (13 wins ending December 2011).
Twenty-five points is Manchester City's joint-best points return after the first nine games of a Premier League season alongside (2011-12). The only team with more points at this stage of the season were Chelsea (27) in 2005-06.
Sergio Aguero has had a hand in 11 goals in 10 Premier League appearances against West Brom (seven goals, four assists), averaging a goal or assist every 63 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in a team passing sequence for 19 open play goals and 77 open play shots this season in the Premier League - both more than any other player in the competition.
Albion set up for a 0-0 draw against Southampton and nearly got it. Jay Rodriguez also missed a couple of good half-chances and they were ultimately undone by probably the goal of the season.
Tony Pulis will always make it difficult and I expect no different against Manchester City. The problem is Pep Guardiola has so much quality to choose from.
Paul predicts: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus are joint 5/2 favourites in the first goalscorer betting, while no fewer than eight City players are shorter than the Baggies' likeliest contender Salomon Rondon at 10/1.
