West Ham v Man City preview: Adrian recalled for Hammers ahead of City test
Watch live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1.30pm on Sunday
Sunday 29 April 2018 13:09, UK
West Ham boss David Moyes will be forced to recall Adrian with Joe Hart unable to play against his parent club Manchester City on Sunday.
The Spaniard has reportedly been left unhappy at having lost his place to Hart, who has started the Hammers' last five games, especially following high-profile blunders against Burnley and Stoke City while the England goalkeeper has been between the sticks.
Moyes has laid down a challenge to Adrian ahead of the game, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1.30pm on Sunday, to make the No 1 shirt his own.
He said: "I hope Adrian plays so well against Manchester City that he is available for the next one, that's the plan," said Moyes.
Image:Joe Hart will miss out after playing the last five games for West Ham
"You're never going to play City without your goalkeeper having to play well, so we need a big game from Adrian on Sunday. Then if you get in and you do well..."
Manchester City can keep their quest to become the first top-flight team to reach 100 points if they avoid defeat.
The Premier League champions have had assistant coach Mikel Arteta linked with the soon-to-be vacant manager's job at Arsenal during the week, and boss Pep Guardiola said his fellow Spaniard "deserved the best".
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Pep Guardiola says Mikel Arteta deserves the best amid rumours the Man City coach could be the next Arsenal manager
Team news
Adrian will begin between the posts for West Ham against Manchester City with Joe Hart, on loan from their opponents ineligible to play. Manuel Lanzini continues his recovery from injury, while Pedro Obiang is close to returning to the squad, although Sunday's game may prove too soon for him.
John Stones and Sergio Aguero remain sidelined for Manchester City, although manager said this week he is hopeful of the former playing again before the end of the season.
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West Ham host Man City and Arsenal travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, here are some of the stats focussing on the two fixtures
Opta stats
West Ham have lost their two previous matches against Man City at London Stadium by an aggregate score of 0-9 (0-5 in FA Cup in January 2017, 0-4 in Premier League in February 2017).
Manchester City have won all four matches against the Hammers under Pep Guardiola in all competitions.
The Hammers have lost only one of their last seven Premier League home games (W3 D3), losing 0-3 against Burnley last month.
Man City have won their last two league games played in London, beating Arsenal and Tottenham respectively. They've not won three consecutive top-flight games in the capital since January 1955 (2 wins vs Chelsea, 1 vs Arsenal).
City have scored 98 Premier League goals this season - only three teams have reached 100 goals in a single season in the competition's history (Chelsea 103 in 2009-10, Man City 102 in 2013-14 and Liverpool 101 in 2013-14). Indeed, if they score their 100th in this game, it will be the fastest a team has reached 100 top-flight goals in a season (35 games) since Everton in 1931-32 (32 games).
City are also one win away from equalling Chelsea's record of 30 wins in a single Premier League campaign, which the Blues set last season.
This will be the third time West Ham have faced a team who have already been crowned champions in that Premier League campaign - they lost to Man Utd on the final day of 1996-97, and also won at Old Trafford thanks to a Carlos Tevez goal in May 2007.
David Moyes lost just six of his 22 Premier League matches against Man City as Everton boss (W12 D4) - since leaving the Toffees, he has lost all five.
David Silva has scored four and assisted two goals in his six away matches against West Ham for Man City in all competitions, scoring in both matches at London Stadium.
Both David Silva and Leroy Sane have scored nine Premier League goals this season, with three other City players having already scored 10+. The last team to have four players reach double figures for goals in a single Premier League campaign were Arsenal in 2012-13, while no side has ever had five players do so in the competition.
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Merson's prediction
Manchester City will go to town at the London Stadium. Arsenal put four past West Ham last week so City will continue to finish their season on high.
West Ham are as good as safe now, so they will be OK no matter how many goals they concede to City.
