West Ham United bring the curtain down on 2018 with a trip to Burnley on Sunday.
The Hammers go into the game full of confidence having won five games from six in December.
That in itself is a new club record points haul from a single month in Premier League history.
The latest win came away to Southampton last time out.
Pellegrini working wonders despite injury crisis
A stunning Felipe Anderson brace and commanding display saw West Ham win 2-1 to go up to ninth, one point off seventh.
That is despite Pellegrini having to deal with a Premier League-worst injury list.
Shorn of a host of top quality players including Manuel Lanzini, Andriy Yarmolenko, Jack Wilshere, Winston Reid and more recently Marko Arnautovic, West Ham’s form and performances have been nothing short of remarkable.
Pellegrini has hinted talisman Arnautovic might return from injury sooner than expected for the trip to Burnley.
Merson fires stark warning over West Ham threat
But regardless Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson had an ominous warning for Sean Dyche’s side ahead of the visit of the Hammers.
“Burnley have been all over the place recently,” Merson said on Sky Sports.
“They have let in goals, which is not like them.
“They seem like they are going to tighten up at the back, like only losing 1-0 at Tottenham, but then they go and concede five at home.
“West Ham are on fire, and Felipe Anderson is a match winner on his own.
“So I think West Ham will make it an even more miserable Christmas for Burnley. They are in real trouble.”
Merson has backed West Ham to win 3-1.
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