Fifth-place Manchester City visit West Ham in the Premier League this evening (7.45pm kick-off) hoping to replicate their recent FA Cup triumph over the Hammers at the London Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s men thumped the East Londoners 5-0 in the third round back on January 6, with goals from Yaya Toure, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, John Stones, and an own goal from Havard Nordtveit sealing the Citizens’ passage into the last 32 of the world’s oldest club competition.

However, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster for Guardiola’s men since then, having been thumped 4-0 by Everton, letting slip a two-goal lead to draw with Tottenham, and then easing past Crystal Palace 3-0 last weekend, which makes it extremely difficult to know exactly where City are at.

Yet, they are at fifth in the Premier League, and know that a win over Slaven Bilic’s men this evening would take them level on points with fourth place Liverpool.

This will be the first game for City following the conclusion of the January transfer window, with many believing that Guardiola needed to strengthen his squad ahead of their top four assault in the coming months.

Gabriel Jesus joined the club, but other than that there were no incomings at the Etihad, and here is what their FRONT FOUR could have looked like if they had landed one key deal last month…

David Silva

Raheem Sterling, Jesus Navas, and Leroy Sane could all be part of a City front four, but the technically brilliant David Silva continues to be the one pulling the strings for City in the final third.

The Spanish international, who moved to the Etihad Stadium all the way back in 2010, has scored 36 goals and laid on an incredible 61 assists in his Premier League career thus far and, although he hasn’t been as prolific this term, he is still creating opportunities in the final third.

The 31-year-old has netted three goals and laid on a further five times in all competitions this season, so Guardiola will likely want more from the attacker, but he’ll know that he’ll continue to get into the positions to score and create for a while yet.

Kevin De Bruyne

One of City’s most important players Kevin De Bruyne has been directly involved in more goals in the Premier League this term than any other City player.

The Belgian international made a £55 million move to Eastlands in 2015 after a successful stint at Wolfsburg, and the 25-year-old has gone on to become one of the most feared midfielders in Europe, with his tally of nine assists the most of anyone in the Premier League this season.

His three goals and nine assists puts him ahead of Sergio Aguero (11) in terms of contributions and, although he’d like to have scored more by now, as long as he continues to contribute in some sense, City will score the goals necessary to clinch a top four place come May.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

City already have a fine frontline that would worry many Premier League defences, but just imagine what it would have been like if they had secured a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last month.

The Gabon international has been one of the best forwards in world football over the past six years, having scored a stunning 139 goals in just 247 career appearances since the start of the 2011/12 campaign.

In that time he earned a move to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund, and embarked on his best goal-scoring season last time out by netting 39 goals in just 49 games for Thomas Tuchel’s side, as they came second in the league and reached the German Cup final.

With 20 goals in 23 games this term, Aubameyang looks well-placed to beat that sensational tally this season, so it’s no surprise that City were reportedly interested in bringing the 27-year-old to England in January, albeit were unable to get a deal done.

However, the forward has recently stated that he may have to leave Dortmund in the summer, so expect City’s interest to remain and perhaps turn into something concrete come the end of the season.

Sergio Aguero

One of the best strikers to have ever graced the Premier League, Sergio Aguero is once again embarking on another prolific campaign.

It may not feel like that, given his two long suspensions and apparent discontent at the Etihad, yet the Argentine international has scored 11 goals in just 16 Premier League appearances this term, and 18 in 24 matches in all competitions.

This means that he is well-placed to beat his best season tally at City of 32 back in 2014/15 which, for a player many feel hasn’t been at his best this term, demonstrates exactly how good a forward Aguero is.

Keeping him fit and free from suspension for the rest of the campaign is integral for City to achieve a top four place.