West Ham United's Cheikhou Kouyate has sounded a word of caution as his side travels to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Saturday.

City have lost four games in their last six to drop to fourth on the table but Senegal international Kouyate is not about to take the reigning champions lightly.

"Anything is possible in football, but we mustn't forget who we are up against. They are a wounded animal, because they need points, so they have to wake themselves up to win," Kouyate said on the club's official website.

"We need the points as well, because we want to remain in the top 10.

"It is not going to be easy because we will be up against one of the best teams in the country and last year's champions of England.

"If we are going to get anything there, we have to enjoy it and really play as a team and work as a team."

The Hammers are going through their own slump in form as they have won just one of their last 10 games.