LONDON – West Ham United right back Ryan Fredericks says his
team won't sit back after sliding into the three-team Premier League
drop zone last week with a 3-3 draw against Brighton and Hove
Albion.
David Moyes' men face champions Manchester City on Sunday 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 Juergen 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 also 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 Saturday.
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."
Crystal Palace travel to Everton's Goodison Park in Saturday's other
fixture.
Manager Roy Hodgson will have a near full strength squad after
Christian Benteke, Patrick van Aanholt and Andros Townsend returned
from injury against Sheffield United.
However, they will be without loanee forward Cenk Tosun, who is not
eligible to play against his parent club Everton.