OPINION
West Ham United will be looking to spring an upset against champions Manchester City when they return to Premier League action on Saturday.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini will have to go bold with his team selection if they are to do that, and that means ditching the 4-1-4-1 formation he has favoured of late to return to a 4-3-3 and making three changes from the draw with Huddersfield Town before the international break.
The trio of players to drop out from the Terriers clash should be Aaron Cresswell, Pedro Obiang and Grady Diangana, with Arthur Masuaku, Mark Noble and Andy Carroll replacing them in the starting line up.
Lukasz Fabianski, as usual, should continue to man the sticks for the Hammers, while Pablo Zabaleta is the man for all seasons at right back.
Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop have formed a wonderfully solid partnership at the heart of the West Ham defence and they will be tested to their limits by City’s wonderful collection of attacking talents.
It seems that the Hammers might as well go for it against City. Pep Guardiola’s side will be almost impossible to stop whatever Pellegrini’s team do, so they might as well try and match the champions blow for blow.
That means that the more attack-minded Arthur Masuaku should get the nod over Aaron Cresswell at left back, who has failed to impress in recent weeks.
Mark Noble deserves to go straight back into the team following his suspension, and alongside Declan Rice will provide the solidity in the middle of the park. Robert Snodgrass should start in the number ten role, with his industry and creativity key against City.
Felipe Anderson should continue on the left, while frontman Marko Arnautovic should move out wide to accommodate the returning Andy Carroll. The former Liverpool man’s physical presence could be the Hammers’ best bet to upset City’s backline, while West Ham insider ExWHUemployee tweeted that Carroll is in the squad.
A certain Geordie striker as been named in the squad tomorrow ??
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) November 23, 2018