Match Preview - Liverpool vs West Ham

Saturday Night Football sees the meeting of two of the league’s in form sides, as West Ham travel up to Anfield, hoping to cause a scare on halloween to an injury hit Liverpool. The Hammers visit the champions on a run of four unbeaten in the Premier League, including an impressive 1–1 draw against Manchester City, a dominant 3–0 win against Leicester, and that unforgettable 3–3 draw with Tottenham (always worth another look). Liverpool also find themselves in a purple patch, and host the East London side, hoping to make it four wins in a row in all competitions.

Liverpool’s injury woes have been well documented, with Virgil Van-Dijk sidelined for the majority of the season, after Jordan Pickford’s… lets say “mis-judged”… tackle during the Merseyside derby. Fabinho’s hamstring tear in the midweek Champions League win against FC Midtjylland has left Jurgen Klopp even more depserate at the back, with teenager Rhys Williams replacing the Brazilian. A glimmer of hope for the Reds came from the results of Wednesday’s scan, showing a grade 1/2 tear, most likely keeping Fabinho out for the next three games. But for Saturday’s fixture, the 19-year old academy graduate looks most likely start.

The Hammers have an injury concern of their own, after last weekend’s star man Michael Antonio was forced off early in the second half with a hamstring problem of his own. David Moyes confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Antonio is out.

But a slight tweak in formation from last season’s 4–2–3–1 has provided greater defensive stability, and built a foundation for a great counter-attacking side. David Moyes has started to deploy a 5–4–1 formation, with Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals defending wide as part of the midfield four, but placing themselves higher up the pitch, ready to launch once the Hammers win possession. With Antonio up top, West Ham’s pace on the counter would’ve been likely to cause Liverpool plenty of problems, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson so attack minded. However, with Sebastian Haller the probable replacement, their threat on the counter will likely be dampened. The Frenchman will, however, provide an added aerial threat to a side already armed with plenty of height, including Moyes’ new Fellaini; Tomáš Souček.

Liverpool will look to take charge of the game early, pushing West Ham’s wide players back, killing the counter before it has a chance to start and isolating West Ham’s target man. Jurgen Klopp might well tinker with the fomation slightly, deploying a 4–2–3–1 formation; usually effective against inferior opposition.

With a more compact front four, the Reds counter-pressing phase (the phase of pressing instantly after they lose the ball) can suffocate these sides that are less comfortable on the ball, and retain possession with incredible efficiency. In the instance of a successful bypass of the first-phase press, Liverpool’s double pivot in the centre of midfield have an incredible ability to sniff out danger in the transitional phase.

In attack, Roberto Firmino’s tendency to drop into deeper roles allows Salah and Mane the freedom and space to dart in behind the advancing centre-back. The recent successful introduction of summer-signing Diogo Jota, has added another dimension of creativity into an already dynamite Liverpool attack.

Klopp’s men will provide a tough test for the Hammers, who will look to forge a steely defensive performance of their own, in the hope of making the most of a relatively inexperienced Liverpool back-line. But it’s Liverpool’s experience up top that makes them The Red-hot favourites going into Saturday’s fixture.

Likely Liverpool lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Williams, Robertson; Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Likely West Ham Lineup: Fabianski; Coufal, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku; Bowen, Rice, Souček, Fornals; Haller.

Kyle’s prediction: West Ham will hold the fort in their defensive third, and look to spring counter-attacks, with Bowen and Fornals bombing past Haller, and exploiting the space left behind by Alexander-Arnold and Robertson. If they can carry their form through to Saturday night, there’s a good chance they’ll grab a goal or two. Ultimately, however, Liverpool’s undoubtable quality will shine through, with or without Van-Dijk. Sadio Mane is red hot at the minute, and last week’s goal from Firmino will hopefully kick-start his season. I’m going 3–1, Liverpool.

By Kyle Newbould

Read more from Kyle - https://kylenewbould.medium.com/