City keeper Ederson takes a risk, playing the ball to Fernandinho on the edge of the box. The Brazilian is quickly closed down by Soucek but, crucially, also fouled.

Daniel

First sign that West Ham will look to get men forward on the break when they can. Coufal is away down the right and has team-mates to aim for in and around the box. His ball across the pitch is a decent one but halts the urgency, allowing City to regroup and eventally clear.

City are quickly into their crisp pass-and-move style, looking to open up the Hammers defence. The visitors are well-drilled, though, and repel the first wave.

Randolph gets an early touch as the ball is played back to him to punt up field. It'll get a lot tougher than that, Darren lad.

It's Saturday, the sun is shining and we've got a game of football to watch. What's not to like? West Ham get us under way.

Dan in London

What a game for Darren Randolph to be thrown into by the way.

Here we go then people. We've got two sides out on the pitch, a stupid amount of Man City playing talent sat in the stand and potentially a cracking game just minutes away.

Settle yourselves in.

Curtis Davies
Derby defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

David Moyes has had time to build what he wants to. The previous manager had lots of money to spend but Moyes has been shrewd with his signings.

Even if West Ham were to fall away and finish in the top six, I think their fans would be delighted to be playing European football.

I think they’re punching above their weight, but they’re looking fantastic.

Here is an interesting little stat ahead of this game...

David Moyes has gone 40 Premier League away games without a victory against established top-six opposition since his Everton side beat Manchester City in December 2010 (D12, L28).

That run has to end at some point, surely?

Stephen Warnock
Ex-Aston Villa and Liverpool defender on Football Focus

We talk so much about Ilkay Gundogan's form this season in midfield but Tomas Soucek has arguably been one of the best signings for West Ham in the last 10 years. He brings so much quality. Credit must go to David Moyes.

Curtis Davies
Derby defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

With Sergio Aguero playing up against them and knowing he just needs one chance to score, West Ham will have a different mindset.

The fact that David Moyes has gone with a back three shows you just how important it is for West Ham to shut up shop.

Image source, Getty Images

Ominously, West Ham are winless in 11 games against Manchester City in all competitions since a 2-1 league victory at Etihad Stadium in September 2015 (D2, L9).

The 1-1 draw in this season's reverse fixture in October ended City's nine-match winning run against the Hammers.

City have actually scored in 19 successive league and cup games against West Ham.

Just to worry Hammers fans that bit more...

The only goal conceded by City in their past 11 competitive home fixtures was a Ruben Dias own goal in a 1-1 draw against West Brom on 15 December.

On the scoring front, Ilkay Gundogan has scored nine Premier League goals in 2021, four more than any other player while Raheem Sterling has been involved in 14 goals in 15 Premier League appearances against West Ham, scoring eight and setting up six.

Rob Sayer: Spending money on good quality players that can be developed into a Pep team is what counts. How many of the bench players were household names before they played under Pep. Sterling, maybe Jesus. Spend your money wisely folks

West Ham aren't on a City-level run, but they're doing just fine, thanks for asking...

David Moyes' side have won seven of their nine Premier League games in 2021.

The Hammers are in the top four after 25 top-flight matches for the first time since 1986, when they finished third. A seventh away win of the season this Saturday would equal the club's Premier League record for a single campaign, last achieved in 2015-16.

Kieron Dyer
Former England and Newcastle midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

Pep Guardiola always used to get stick for not having a plan B – Man City would dominate the ball and the only way you would score against them would be a set piece or on the counter attack. When David Silva was coming towards the end, Kevin de Bruyne was struggling with injuries, Rodri came in and replaced Fernandinho but didn’t have the same physical ability – the amount of goals City conceded on the counter you thought wow. The centre halves were getting all the stick but as a team they couldn’t stop the counter and Pep deserves credit for the way he has set his team up this season.

Everyone is jumping on the John Stones and Reuben Dias band wagon and rightly so because they are playing well, but Pep deserves credit for setting up the team to stop the counter which makes it an easy job for the back two.

The stats going into this game are pretty ridiculous. Let's start with that City unbeaten run...

City are enjoying the longest competitive winning streak in history by an English top-flight team. Thirteen of their 19 successive victories have come in the league. They are unbeaten in 26 games across all competitions (W23, D3) - two matches shy of their longest run without defeat under Pep Guardiola, set in 2017.

Remember, this is a season characterised by inconsistency.

Richard, Norwich