Hammers victory is on

Pundits have been suggesting that the all- conquering Manchester City are slightly weaker than they were last year.

If so, then the Irons are the perfect opponents to test this.

Sheffield United came close to stopping Man City by playing in an ultra-defensive formation of the kind West Ham will take to the extreme, as they did in the 3-1 wins against Brighton and Chelsea, matches in which David Moyes’s side held 22% and 24% possession respectively.

In both cases, West Ham refused to press at all, therefore preventing Roberto de Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino from playing their fast transitions and press-baiting football.

Do you know something?

There could be an upset on the cards !

Man City seem more ponderous and less multi-dimensional this season, especially without the injured Kevin de Bruyne, but the Premier League is yet to test whether the simplest of defensive strategies will nullify a team reliant on the Cyborg that is Erling Haaland, getting sufficient space in the box.

With Julian Alvarez lacking De Bruyne’s creativity, with no Riyad Mahrez yanking open space on the right, and without Ilkay Gundogan providing goals from deep, there is a good chance that the original anti-Guardiola weapon – a low block that makes possession football stagnant – is due for a comeback.

This could actually work, with our long balls into the channel for Michail Antonio – so successful against Brighton and Chelsea – who could then find space on the outside of Man City’s back three, providing the counter-attacking threat they need to offset their territorial retreat.

Meanwhile, James Ward-Prowse’s set-piece threat has made us even more effective in underdog games.

Should Man City drop points, the Premier League will suddenly feel a lot more open. This is a far bigger game than it first appears.

COYI !