Fredericks confident Hammers can beat Man City
TOMORROW Everton vs Crystal Palace
SUNDAY Brighton vs Watford (1.30am in Malaysia) Sheff Utd vs Bournemouth
MONDAY
Man City vs West Ham (12.30am in Malaysia)
WEST HAM UNITED right back Ryan Fredericks says his team won’t sit back after sliding into the threeteam Premier League drop zone last week with a 3-3 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion.
David Moyes’ men face champions Manchester City on Monday (12.30am) with runaway League leaders Liverpool to follow in their next game.
“We’re not going to give up at all,” Fredericks said. “We’re not going to be looking just to stay in the game (against Manchester City) and get a draw. We’re more than confident that we can go and score goals.
“That’s why we’re all so gutted and frustrated is because we’re not one of those teams who is trying to nick wins when we’re not playing well and that we’re not good enough to beat teams.”
City’s Pep Guardiola all but conceded that it is Liverpool’s title this year with a nod to a reporter after his side were beaten 2-0 by Tottenham Hotspur to trail Jurgen Klopp’s side by a record 22 points.
But the Spaniard refused to criticise his players and stated that getting goals is not one of their problems.
“We cannot say as a team we can’t score goals because we score a lot,” said Guardiola.
“In this situation, the only thing we can do is play better and maybe be mentally stronger.
“We have to accept it and work on that. I always believe in this concept.”
Bournemouth play sixth-placed Sheffield United on Sunday in a round split over two weekends to allow each team a fortnight off in a winter break of sorts.
Eddie Howe’s side received a huge boost when they beat Aston Villa to leap out of relegation trouble by two points up to 16th.
Howe said he wants to see that determination from his side continue.
“It was hugely important we got over the line and won the game (against Aston Villa),” Howe said.
“We don’t know whether it will define our season but it feels like a big moment now.
“When we show the work rate, passion and belief, we are a different team. For me, that’s probably the thing that’s been missing.”
Brighton, who sit 15th and on the same points as Bournemouth with 26, host second-from-bottom Watford on Sunday (1.30am).
The Seagulls’ manager Graham Potter says he is content with the side he’s got to survive another year in the top flight of English football.
“It’s the Premier League, it’s supposedly the hardest competition in the world and in nearly 120 years we’ve been in the top-flight for seven years,” said Potter.
“We are where we are and sometimes we won’t be successful – but we will fight.
“I’m happy with the players we’ve got and I think there is enough in the group we already have to get the points which will get us higher up the table.” – dpa