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Man City team news: Predicted 4-3-3 line up vs West Ham – Sterling out, defensive choice
Manchester City will be without Raheem Sterling when they face West Ham at the London Stadium tonight (7.30pm).
Man City vs West Ham: Guardiola and Moyes preview clash
Raheem Sterling is set to miss out due to injury when Manchester City return to Premier League action against West Ham. The England international picked up a thigh injury just six minutes into the defeat to Tottenham last time out.
Sterling is set for a short spell on the sidelines, although City will hope the 25-year-old can return in time to face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu next week.
The winger’s injury was the first of several set-backs Pep Guardiola’s team have suffered in February.
Goals from Steven Bergwijn and Son Heung-min inflicted City’s sixth Premier League defeat of the season at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium, while Oleksandr Zinchenko was also sent off in the loss.
City were then robbed of the chance to get back to winning ways when their clash with West Ham on Sunday was postponed due to Storm Ciara.
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And things got worse for Guardiola and his players after UEFA imposed a ban on the club competing in European competitions for two years due to alleged breaches in Financial Fair Play regulations.
This ban has sparked speculation Guardiola could look to leave the Etihad at the end of the season, although the Spaniard is understood to be committed to seeing out his contract – which is due to expire in 2021.
Tonight’s rescheduled game with West Ham gives City a chance to close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, although they would still be 22 points adrift even if victory is secured against the Hammers.
Guardiola could rotate his squad with one eye on the looming clash with Real Madrid and the EFL Cup final also on the horizon.
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However, Ederson will still start in goal while Kyle Walker should get the nod over Joao Cancelo at right-back.
Benjamin Mendy has made a timely return to fitness and will deputise for the suspended Zinchenko on the other side of defence.
Fernandinho should continue at the heart of the back four while Aymeric Laporte is expected to return in place of Nicolas Otamendi, having recovered from his latest injury setback.
Phil Foden will hope to get the nod over Ilkay Gundogan in midfield if Guardiola looks to give the youngster valuable minutes.
However, David Silva is another option while Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne are almost certain starters.
Likewise, Riyad Mahrez appears a guaranteed pick on the right flank while Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus are in competition for a spot on the other wing.
Leroy Sane is also edging closer to his first appearance since suffering an ACL injury in the Community Shield, although the Germaan will not start.
Finally, Sergio Aguero will lead the line as he looks to build on his tally of 21 goals across all competitions this season.
West Ham are winless in five matches across all competitions and remain without Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmolenko due to injury.
But Felipe Anderson is in contention to return to full fitness while January signing Jarrod Bowen will hope to feature from the off.
Meanwhile, Fabian Balbuena could be recalled in central defence at the expense of either Issa Diop or Angelo Ogbonna after the Hammers let a two-goal lead slip against Brighton last time out.
Manchester City predicted line-up vs West Ham United – Premier League
(4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Mendy; Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden; Mahrez, Bernardo, Aguero