West Ham Vs Liverpool Sun 30th 2.05pm
After some tough matches of late it will be nice to have some respite against a side that we really should be looking to beat in third gear. Liverpool have shipped 7 goals at home in the last five days with only 1 being scored by way of return, I imagine that was a lucky one as well. In many ways I hope Nuno takes the opportunity to play the kids, they have to start somewhere and this is a good a fixture as any, just to give them a bit of confidence and to feel a crowd get behind them.
My prediction
If he plays the kids probably 2-1
If It's the first eleven, then who knows? could by 6 - 7 to 0.
My prediction
If he plays the kids probably 2-1
If It's the first eleven, then who knows? could by 6 - 7 to 0.
Comments
just sayin'
“Lads, we’re on an awful run BUT it’s West Ham on Sunday “
That’s it, that’s the team talk.
Injuries have been a problem, the most notable was Alisson who missed 8 games but the bad run of form started before that and he's only kept 2 clean sheets in 10. He missed the loss to PSV with illness and faces a late fitness test
With Caoimhín Kelleher gone Giorgi Mamardashvili is 2nd choice keeper but he hasn't been great, just 2 clean sheets and the 3rd choice keeper is Freddie Woodman (Preston free) whose only start was the 3-0 Caraboa Cup loss to Palace
One theory on why Liverpool have struggled is that Trent Alexander Arnold was a lot more important than anyone realised. They signed Jeremie Frimpong (Leverkusen £29.5m) but he's spent most of the season injured while Conor Bradley has been less than impressive and now he's injured too.
Dominik Szoboszlai - one of the few players who has impressed this season - has played as a makeshift RB 5 times although Curtis Jones played there against PSV with Szoboszlai switching back to his preferred slot in attacking midfield
At centre back Konate is having a mare and it seems to be infectious with Van Dijk looking out of sorts while Joe Gomez has been restricted to rare appearances off the bench plus a couple of starts in the Carabao.
They replaced CB Jarell Quansah (Leverkusen) with Giovanni Leoni (Parma £25m) but he suffered a cruciate ligament injury on his debut in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton and isn't expected back any time soon.
The only new arrival to have settled in is Milos Kerkez who has pretty much established himself as first choice LB with Andy Robertson as backup. Konstantinos Tsimikas has joined Roma on loan
The central midfield is also pretty settled with Gravenberch and Mac Allister both regular starters plus Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo as back up
Up front a huge blow was the sad loss of Diogo Jota. Luiz Dias and Darwin Nunez have both moved on to pastures new while Harvey Elliot is on loan at Villa.
Those who are left have not been fantastic, by this time last season Salah had scored 12 but so far he's only managed 5. Cody Gakpo has scored 4 while new arrival Florian Wirtz hasn't scored in 16 appearances and faces a late fitness test after missing the last two games.
Alexander Isak is fit after missing 5 games so far but his only goal was against Saints in the Carabao. He scored 5 in 3 against us for Newcastle but didn't score in the two fixtures last season
Top scorer (6) Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt £69m ) had to be subbed off with a back injury against PSV
Our last draw was at home April 2024, our last win was at home November 2021
Liverpool haven't drawn this season so I'd be happy for them to break that streak
When asked if he needed to change the system he replied
“I don’t know what is in your head but if, for example, you want another system with five defenders that could be an issue. I don’t even have five defenders."
Except he does have five defenders. Both Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson are available, both can play RB but are sitting on the bench while Slot persists with out of position midfielders
Maybe Slot is just not that good and last season was the Klopp "hangover"
Areola
Wan-Bissaka - Mavropanos - Todibo - Diouf
Fernandes - Potts - Paquetá
Bowen - Wilson - Guilherme
Given that Magassa did play CB for Monaco at times, I'd rather he play, as a DM, but able to drop in as requied, rather than start with 3CBs as we did against Bournemouth. Also not sure Kilman gets dropped.
Areola
AWB Kilman Todibo Diouf
Fernandes Magassa Potts
Bowen Wilson Paqueta
I think we’ll lose 3-1.
We beat them 3-1 at home in September (Reid, Sakho, Amalfitano)
There seems to be a general agreement among the pundits that Kerkez should be dropped for Robertson (7 starts, 3 Champions League, 2 Carabao Cup, 2 Premier League) but whether Slot agrees is another matter
Admittedly it was against Southampton in the Carabao Cup but I guess it counts...
They also reckon Nuno outsmarted Slot twice last season as Forest was one of the few teams they didn't beat (lost at home, drew away)
They're not a happy bunch...
Subs: Hermansen (GK), Kilman, Igor, Walker-Peters, Rodríguez, Irving, Souček, Luis Guilherme, Füllkrug
Kilman dropped, Mavropanos back in, Magassa starts, looks like a 4-3-3.
Alisson and Wirtz back in the starting line up, Isak starts, Ekitike on the bench.
Joe Gomez gets his first Premier League start since his last visit to London Stadium just after Christmas
Last time he lasted half an hour before limping off with a hamstring
Areola
Magassa - Mavropanos - Todibo
AWB - Fernandes - Potts- Diouf
Bowen - Wilson - Paquetá
or is it 4-3-3?
Areola
AWB - Mavropanos - Todibo - Diouf
Magassa - Fernandes - Potts
Bowen - Wilson - Paquetá
Hope players aren't confused. Summerville will be missed.
Gomez Konate Van Dijk Kerkez
Gravenberch Mac Allister
Gakpo Szoboszlai Wirtz
Isak
Subs Mamardashvili, Robertson, Jones, Endo, Chiesa, Salah, Ekitike plus England U19s 18yo CM Trey Nyoni and 17yo winger Rio Ngumoha
Going to be working for the first half
COYI