Manchester City v West Ham United: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at the Etihad

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini urges his troops on (Reuters)

Manchester City look poised to bring home the Premier League trophy for the second time in three years. Losing to West Ham on home turf this Sunday is the only thing that can stop them.

Manuel Pellegrini's side are two points clear at the top of the table and with a goal difference 13 better than second place Liverpool, it would take a defeat to West Ham and a win for Liverpool for Manchester City to lose out on being crowned Premier League champions.

The Etihad team strengthened their hold of the trophy with a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa at home on Wednesday, whilst challengers Liverpool let a three goal lead over Crystal Palace slip to a 3-3 draw. In arguably one of the most competitive title races in Premier League history, Manchester City have timed their run of good form just right.

West Ham will be playing to consolidate their twelfth position, but with Swansea, Sunderland, Aston Villa and West Brom biting at their heels, the Hammers will not want to lose. Sam Allardyce will want to avoid further defeat at a ground where they lost 6-0 in January and with there being talk that this could be his last game in charge, he will want to go out fighting. However, he already led his team to 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspurs last weekend after four consecutive defeats.

Manchester City are strong favourites to win and only have to draw to secure the Premier League title. However, in a season where there has been a whole host of surprising results, victory is by no means assured.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

West Ham 0, Man City 3 (Negredo 2, Aguero), Capital One Cup, January 2014

Man City 6 (Negredo 3, Toure, Dzeko 2) West Ham 0, Capital One Cup, January 2014

West Ham 1(Vaz Te) Man City 3 (Aguero 2, Silva), Premier League, October 2013

STATS…

City have won their last four league matches.

Their only home league defeat so far this season came against Chelsea on 3 February. Sunderland are the only other side to have taken any points away from the Etihad in the 2013-14 Premier League campaign - they drew 2-2 there last month.

City have been top of the table this season for fewer days than any other of the teams in the top four.

Man City are only the second team in Premier League history to score 100+ goals in a single season (after Chelsea with 103 in 2009-10). They have exactly 100 goals, compared to the 40 scored by West Ham.

West Ham have lost four of their last five Premier League matches.

They have also lost four of their last five league matches on the road.

West Ham kept a clean sheet for the first time in 11 games against Tottenham last weekend.

The Hammers finished last season in 10th place with 46 points. They cannot match that performance in this campaign, even if they beat City.

ODDS…

Man City to win: 1.18

West Ham to win: 15.0

Draw: 7.50

TV: Sky Sports 1 HD 3pm