MATCH STATS

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On target

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Corners

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Fouls

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TEAM NEWS

Manchester City again have no fit recognised strikers, with Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic still on the sidelines.
Captain Vincent Kompany is also out with a hamstring problem, but Gael Clichy is fit after a foot injury.
West Brom captain Chris Brunt returns following a hamstring problem, while Georgios Samaras is back in training.
Victor Anichebe and Boaz Myhill are both doubtful through injury and illness respectively.

MATCH PREVIEW

The West Brom players will have Christmas Day afternoon off after training in the morning. 
The Doctor Who yuletide special might help them prepare. No doubt it'll be about beings from another planet and how simple earthlings combat them with some special help from the Doctor. 
From his Tardis-like Hawthorns office, Alan Irvine will need more than a sonic screwdriver to stop Manchester City who, at times recently, have looked worlds apart from most Premier League teams. 

Lawro's prediction
West Brom worry me. To be 2-0 up at QPR and then throw it away shows that, mentally, there is a problem there.
Their run of eight wins on the spin in all competitions has drawn scant praise. They've not been at their fluent best. But they have been effective, ruthless and tidy at the back with four clean sheets in a row.
But Doctor Who never takes a likely beating lying down and West Brom showed enough at QPR in their thrilling 3-2 defeat to suggest they could yet create something of a surprise here. 
The title chasers have to make the most of games like this against lowly opposition. Manuel Pellegrini has learned his lesson from last season when dropped points at the likes of Cardiff, Aston Villa and Sunderland nearly cost them the title. 
Even without Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Vincent Kompany, City brushed Palace aside on Saturday. 
This will be more difficult. Their defence won't relish West Brom's pace in wide positions. 
It'll be a test for City and they may even struggle at first. I also think West Brom are due a change in fortune and a couple of big results going their way. 
They are a decent footballing side, but they need to think about picking up a few bargains in the New Year Sales. 
Otherwise not even the Doctor might not be able to save them.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
  • West Brom are without a win against Manchester City in nine games since winning at The Hawthorns on December 2008.
  • Sixty two of the 145 meetings between the two clubs have produced four or more goals (43%). 
West Bromwich Albion
  • West Brom have won just one of their last seven matches.
  • They have failed to score in seven of their 17 league games this season.
  • The Baggies have won just four home league games in 2014. 
  • Craig Dawson is the only West Brom player, other than leading scorer Saido Berahino, to have scored more than once in the Premier League this season. 
Manchester City
  • Manchester City have scored in 14 successive Premier League matches, which is the longest run in the top flight this season.
  • They have lost just one of those 14 games.
  • Manuel Pellegrini's side have won the last 18 league matches when Yaya Toure has scored.
  • Frank Lampard (175) needs one goal to move outright fourth in the overall Premier League all-time scorers list. He is currently joint-fourth with Thierry Henry.
  • Leighton Baines is the only defender (10) to provide more Premier League assists since the start of last season than Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov (both on nine)