David Moyes has revealed his West Ham side will approach Wednesday's clash with Manchester City "as you would approach any fixture", as Pep Guardiola's men look to take another step towards retaining their Premier League crown.
City are in the running to win three competitions this season. The Blues recently returned to the summit of the table after their win over Arsenal but have now slipped back into second after Mikel Arteta's men beat Chelsea on Tuesday.
As well as looking to retain their league crown, City are also into the Champions League semi-finals with a mouthwatering tie against 14-time European champions Real Madrid kicking off next Tuesday, while they could also win the FA Cup when they play rivals Manchester United in the final next month.
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West Ham make the trip to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening to take on City, and if they're to return to the capital with anything more than a defeat they'll likely have to stop Erling Haaland. The City frontman has notched 50 goals in all competitions this season and Moyes was full of praise for the former Dortmund man, though he admitted his side will approach the game against the reigning champions as they would any other league outing.
"I think anybody coming into the Premier League and doing as well as that is incredible," he said when asked about Haaland's debut campaign. "I think they have got a team that can give this player great opportunities.
"What he is, he’s a terrific finisher, whether it’s with his head or his feet, running in behind or scoring inside the box. He's certainly got all the attributes of a really top goalscorer.
"I think he's actually got a team behind him which quite often make him... I wouldn’t say they make it easy for him, but they try to make it as easy as they can to score for him."
"You approach it the same as you would approach any fixture, but obviously we know we are playing against a very good team. We've been to the Etihad a lot and it’s been hard to win, but I’ve got to say, we’ve given them some really good games when we’ve played them. The games have been close, so I’m hoping we can put on another good show."
The Premier League has seen many great sides over the years. Moyes mentioned the Manchester United sides Sir Alex Ferguson crafted, Arsenal in their prime under Arsene Wenger, City's various teams in their rise to the top and even Leicester City's remarkable title triumph in 2016.
Though Moyes acknowledges this City team as one of the best he has seen, the Scot believes it would be "a bit unkind" to the other great sides he mentioned if he labelled the current incarnation at the Etihad Stadium as the best club side he has seen in his life.
He added: "I think the Premier League has had some incredible seasons. Every year or two, you look and there has been great years. Think of when Leicester City won the Premier League, you look at Sir Alex's teams, then the rise of Man City and you go back to Arsene Wenger as well and the way they all worked in the Premier League.
"I think to sort of say, 'yes, this is the best one’, I think would be a bit unkind to all of the others, because I think there were some great seasons. Are they the best team? They are certainly one of the best teams, if not the best.
"But they are certainly one of them and I think it’s another exciting Premier League season. I think Arsenal have been incredible this year, the way they have played and pushing and still are pushing all the way. Who knows, they may yet overcome Man City."
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