West Ham United face an anxious evening after it emerged Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola could make EIGHT changes to his side for the visit of Bournemouth.
Read: Safe by Friday night as Charlie Nicholas predicts the perfect week for West Ham
West Ham face a huge week.
If relegation rivals Bournemouth lose at City and Aston Villa fail to win at Everton on Thursday, West Ham can secure safety with victory over Watford.
West Ham could be safe by Friday if results go their way
Even if Villa draw at Goodison and the Hammers win, David Moyes’s side would be six points clear with two games to go and a vastly superior goal difference.
For West Ham, knowing Bournemouth have a daunting trip to City next is a relief. Especially after Guardiola’s side won their last two games 5-0.
But the Cherries pulled themselves back into survival contention with a 4-1 win over Leicester at the weekend.
And there is huge concern for West Ham after it emerged Man City could rest as many as eight first team stars tonight, with one eye on this Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal.
With the league gone and second place already secured, City have nothing to play for.
Guardiola set to rest eight players as City eye FA Cup
Of course resting players is their right. And City’s squad is so strong it is churlish to call it a second string.
But as West Ham fans will have seen this season, City’s reserve defence is far from convincing.
According to the well-placed Manchester Evening News only goalkeeper Ederson, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva will keep their place against Bournemouth.
And the predicted back four will comprise of Joao Cancelo, Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Nervy evening ahead for Hammers
City should have enough talent to win.
But with nothing to play for and the fact Bournemouth have everything to play for, it could make for a very nervy evening for West Ham fans.
MEN’s predicted Man City XI vs Bournemouth: Ederson; Cancelo, Otamendi, Stones, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Fernandinho, Silva; Sterling, Bernardo, Foden.
Predicted substitutes: Bravo, Walker, Laporte, Garcia, Rodri, De Bruyne, Doyle, Mahrez, Jesus.
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