Liverpool might lengthen an unimaginable successful streak with a victory over West Ham this weekend, in what is a large Premier League conflict at Anfield.
Liverpool vs. West Ham
Premier League | Anfield
Saturday, March 5, 2022 | 5.30pm (GMT)
The Reds host David Moyes’ top-four hopefuls on Saturday night, seeking to transfer inside three factors of Man Metropolis earlier than their go to of Man United.
Listed below are 10 issues to know forward of the match.
1. West Ham impressing once more
As a former Everton and Man United supervisor, it’s no shock that Liverpool followers don’t have an enormous period of time for Moyes.
The Scot continues to do an admirable job with West Ham, nevertheless, with Champions League qualification nonetheless not out of the query.
The Hammers sit fifth within the desk forward of the weekend, though sixth-place Arsenal are degree on factors with three video games in hand.
Victory over Liverpool again in November confirmed precisely what West Ham are able to and they are going to be a menace at Anfield.
Granted, their kind has dipped of late, with just one league win in three and a defeat to Southampton within the FA Cup, however they’re a formidable outfit.
2. Bowen on Liverpool’s radar
When Jarrod Bowen was linked with a transfer to Liverpool final yr, some turned their noses up on the hearsay.
The Englishman has proven precisely why he may very well be a future Purple, nevertheless, standing out as arguably West Ham‘s star man together with Declan Rice.
Bowen has chipped in with eight objectives and assists apiece within the league this season – solely Trent Alexander-Arnold (10), Andy Robertson (9) and Mohamed Salah (9) have extra of the latter.
A direct runner who possesses versatility, a powerful work ethic and dependable finish product, the 25-year-old may very well be a shrewd addition this summer time.
And earlier than the sport, Klopp has praised him as an “unbelievable participant.”
3. Potential Hammers lineup
This isn’t solely an important recreation for Liverpool, with Moyes properly conscious that dropped factors shall be damaging within the top-four race.
For that motive, West Ham‘s strongest potential beginning lineup is predicted, with Rice an influential determine in midfield alongside Tomas Soucek, ought to the Czech have recovered from a head harm in midweek.
Craig Dawson, Kurt Zouma and fit-again Aaron Cresswell will possible make up a again three, with Ben Johnson and Pablo Fornals in wing-back roles and Bowen and Manuel Lanzini taking part in off Michail Antonio in assault.
There are not any new accidents for the Hammers, however Angelo Obgonna is sidelined for the season with a knee drawback, whereas Ryan Fredericks and Arthur Masuaku are additionally out.
Predicted West Ham XI (3-4-2-1): Fabianski; Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Johnson, Rice, Soucek, Fornals; Bowen, Lanzini, Antonio
4. Who’s out for Liverpool?
Simply when it appeared as if Liverpool have been largely harm free, a number of points have began cropping up.
Thiago is out of Saturday’s recreation, as he recovers from the hamstring challenge picked up earlier than the League Cup last, and Roberto Firmino can be nonetheless unavailable.
Curtis Jones is a doubt with a thigh harm suffered towards Norwich within the FA Cup, Joel Matip misses out by sickness (not Covid) and Naby Keita just isn’t a certainty to be match.
5. Predicted Reds XI
Having made 10 adjustments in midweek, Liverpool ought to discipline their finest obtainable crew on Saturday night time.
Which means Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk will companion each other at centre-back, with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson additionally coming again in.
Fabinho is a certainty to begin in midfield, with Jordan Henderson and Keita the favourites to accompany the Brazilian. Harvey Elliott might function if the latter is out.
In assault, Klopp might return to the League Cup last trio of Salah, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane, though Diogo Jota is pushing arduous for a begin after returning to full health.
Potential Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Diaz, Mane
6. “Nothing has modified…”
Talking in his pre-match press convention, Klopp admitted he nonetheless plans to depart Liverpool in the summertime of 2024:
“The plan remains to be the identical.
“I realised once I gave the reply [in an interview on Wednesday]. I assumed ‘oh god’, however I couldn’t take it again. I used to be simply not within the scenario.
“The plan remains to be the identical, nothing has modified actually.”
Don’t break our hearts, Jurgen!
7. A finest run in 16 years?
On Wednesday, Liverpool matched a document that dates again to 2007, successful an eleventh match in succession in all competitions.
Victory over West Ham will, subsequently, see Klopp’s males surpass that, as this probably astonishing season gathers momentum.
Not since August 2006 have they received 12 in a row – in a run of 14 that features the FA Cup last victory over West Ham.
8. Do you know?
Robertson has returned to high kind after a sluggish begin to the season, proving to be as influential as ever down the left flank.
On Saturday, the 27-year-old can attain a formidable milestone, with yet another help wanted to succeed in 50 for Liverpool.
It could additionally take Robertson one away from Robbie Fowler and into the highest 15 of the Reds’ high assist-makers since LFCHistory information started in 1969/70.
Main the way in which are Sir Kenny Dalglish (165) and Steven Gerrard (145), with Firmino (66) and Alexander-Arnold (58) in eighth and ninth place, respectively.
9. Saturday Evening with Jonathan Moss
Jon Moss will take cost of Saturday’s conflict.
In the meantime, Darren England is answerable for VAR for one more Reds recreation, having didn’t award Salah penalties towards each Burnley and Leicester in latest weeks.
This shall be Moss’ third Liverpool recreation of the season – he oversaw the 5-0 drubbing of Watford at Vicarage Street, in addition to the 3-0 win over Brentford at Anfield.
10. “And it’s stay…”
Liverpool vs. West Ham is stay on Sky Sports activities from 5pm (GMT) on Saturday, with kickoff at 5.30pm.
This Is Anfield’s matchday stay weblog shall be in full stream as at all times, as Dan Clubbe guides you thru the motion from 4.45pm.
This can be a huge one!
