The Hammers emerged victorious last season with a 2-1 win, ending City’s 100% start to the season.
Bilic’s comments feature on Sky Sports’ website as the Croatian recalled: “It wasn’t very likely last year because they had started great and had 15 points from five games without conceding a goal.
“But we played a really good game. We scored twice in the first half.
“In the second half they put us under pressure and were really dominating and creating a few chances, but they missed them and we were good in defending the box. Then we made that huge win.
“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t do it this season. We know it’s a big challenge, not only regarding our injury situation, but we are hoping and our whole plan is to have a good game and to get something out of it.
“It’s going to be hard, of course. They’ve shown already they are top-class players and they’ve gelled.
“They were the most impressive in their Champions League game against Steaua in Bucharest, but what gives us hope is that Sunderland made it hard for them and so did Stoke - the result was 4-1 but it was not that easy and the game was very even for a long period.
“Man City were Man City last year and we can do it again.”
Meanwhile, Hammers striker Ashley Fletcher has stoked the fires, insisting – as a United fan – he would love nothing more than to defeat City.
Quoted in the Daily Star, the forward states: “As an ex-Man United player, I’m looking forward to playing against the Blues and hopefully we can beat them like we did last year.
“I’m a United fan and want to go back there and beat them.
“At the end of the day it’s 11 versus 11 and we’ll go out as a team and try to beat them.”
Finally, although Pep Guardiola asserted in his press conference there are no plans for further incomings, the Daily Mail claim City are set to make a fresh approach for Ante Coric.
Writes Simon Jones: “City have offered £7.6million for Ante Coric at Dinamo Zagreb plus another £7m in add ons.
“Negotiations are continuing though the Blues are growing frustrated at changing financial margins and the involvement of other agents.
“He has been a target for Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool but City are still in pole position to complete the deal before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.”
