West Ham star fires Erling Haaland warning message to Newcastle United ahead of Manchester City clash

West Ham United star Michail Antonio has sent a warning message to friend Callum Wilson and the Newcastle United squad ahead of the side's meeting with Manchester City this weekend.

Eddie Howe's men will face the reigning Premier League Champions at St. James' Park on Sunday in what is one of the season's toughest matches.

Pep Guardiola's rampant Cityzens have begun their campaign with back-to-back wins against West Ham and Bournemouth.

On opening weekend, the side beat the Hammers 2-0 with a masterclass from new big name signing Erling Haaland.

Speaking to Callum Wilson on the BBC's Footballer's Football Podcast last week, Antonio spent a large segment praising Manchester City and warning Wilson of just how good they look this year.

Antonio said: "Their system is liquid. It's liquid. It can't be contained. When I say that to you, it's their rotating everywhere. Cancelo popping up in midfield, Kyle Walker playing in midfield then Grealish would be out wide then Bernardo will be inside him so the full-back can't come and mark and get tight.

"It was a masterclass and sometimes you have to just put your hand up and say they were unbelievable. We couldn't get close to them. We tried to press them and they would just pop it around us, it was a masterclass.

"How they set up and how they were playing is to counter our counter-attacks, to shut it down so we can't counter them so quickly. Over the last couple of seasons we've been able to counter them quite quickly and they've struggled with it whereas this game, their tactics worked to a tee. We struggled to get out, we hardly got opportunity to counter. What they planned to do they did.

"Kyle Walker and Cancelo kept coming in. The two wide wingers and Haaland up top, the shape was insane. They were finding pockets everywhere and we just couldn't get close as much as we tried to. There were certain stages when we were just trying to run around but, against them, you can't run around like headless chickens as they'll just pick you off one by one and you'll lose the game by five."

Haaland, one of the world's most exciting rising stars, arrived in the North West from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of £51.2 million.

The forward had netted 86 goals in 89 appearances in Germany and wasted no time getting started in the Premier League against the Hammers earlier this month.

Praising the talisman, Antonio added: "Haaland... rapid. Speedboat. For the first goal, the pass through, I thought he would never get there.

"Obviously he did and won the pen. Even for his second goal, I'm going to have to eat my words from last season saying he might not fit in and Pep is only used to using number 10s. He looks something special."

Newcastle United welcome Manchester City to St. James' Park on Sunday with kick-off at 4:30 pm.