West Ham vs Liverpool predicted line-ups and Stats preview
Jon Flanagan
Liverpool will look to extend their Premier League winning streak to nine <against West Ham on Sunday as their historic title charge rolls on.
The Reds come into the weekend with a two point lead at the summit, whilst West Ham sit comfortably mid-table in 11th place after looking doomed for relegation in January.
Team News
West Ham
Joey O’Brien and Marco Borriello remained sidelined with long-term concerns, whilst George McCartney is set to miss out after having come off injured at half-time in Monday’s win over Sunderland.
Kevin Nolan was also forced from the pitch with a knock against the Black Cats, but should be fit to start at the weekend.
James Collins could also make his return from a calf problem sustained opposite Hull in late March.
Liverpool
Brendan Rodgers may indeed feel blessed, as he’ll be without only long-term casualty Jose Enrique. Daniel Agger, meanwhile, whose fitness was in doubt should be fit.
Aside from the fallen full-back, the Northern Irishman will have a full complement at his disposal.
Predicted Line-ups
Liverpool
Liverpool’s lack of fitness concerns gives Rodgers a good problem to have – decisions to make in selecting his starting eleven.
The manager reverted to a 4-3-3 set-up last time out for the demolition of Tottenham, having favoured a midfield diamond with two up front in the preceding weeks.
After the resounding win at Anfield it seems likely he’ll stick with the same formation and personnel for the visit to Upton Park, leaving Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva on the bench.
(4-3-3): Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flanagan; Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho; Sterling, Sturridge, Suarez
West Ham
It’s a classic case of if it’s not broken, don’t try and fix it for West Ham boss Sam Allardyce.
Like his counterpart in Rodgers, the Hammers tactician should go with an unchanged line-up from the one fielded in Monday’s victory at the Stadium of Light – with one exception.
McCartney’s injury means that Pablo Armero should step in at left-back to make his first start since joining on loan in January from Napoli.
(4-2-3-1): Adrian; Demel, Tomkins, Reid, Armero; Noble, Taylor; Downing, Nolan, Diame; Carroll
Recent Form
Liverpool are enjoying a sensational run of form at just the right time, having won eight on the bounce while outscoring opponents 30-10 along the way.
The Reds’ brilliance in the run-in is the type of thing that wins titles, and they’ll fight tooth and nail on Sunday to make it a perfect 27 points from the last 27 on offer.
West Ham’s own purple patch that began in late January fell on hard times with three straight losses, but the East Londoners have recovered rather quickly.
Allardyce’s charges came roaring back to triumph in their last two fixtures – putting an 11 point buffer between themselves and the drop zone.
Players to Watch
West Ham – Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll’s Liverpool connection requires no introduction – his astonishing £35m price-tag at Anfield having gone unjustified and seen him subsequently land at West Ham.
He won’t be lacking motivation facing his former club in front of the fans that now call him their own and should be quite keen to leave his mark.
The giant striker bagged his second goal of what has been an injury and suspension hit campaign against Sunderland – so will be on the hunt to boost his tally once more.
As ever, Carroll will give Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger all they can handle in the air, his 73 headed duels won in just nine appearances a fearsome haul.
Liverpool – Steven Gerrard
There’s no doubt who the driving force behind Liverpool’s title push has been, despite the flair of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge: talismanic captain Steven Gerrard.
The skipper has been the Reds’ top ranked player over the course of the eight-game unbeaten run with a Performance Score of 378, having completed 88% of his passes, created 12 chances and scored five goals.
Those who wrote Gerrard off earlier this season are eating their words at present, the 33-year-old has been prolific as ever in search of an elusive first Premier League title.
Gerrard will have to be careful to avoid being booked, however, as a yellow card against the Hammers would see him suspended for two games – including the crucial clash with Manchester City on April 13.
Prediction
Nothing can stop Liverpool from scoring at the moment this side of a forcefield. Rodgers’ well-oiled attacking machine has run roughshod over everything in its path.
And per usual, the Reds should be on the front foot from the off and as West Ham aren’t in the thick of the relegation battle, should be content to sit back and hope to grind out a point.
It’s hard to see the Hammers succeeding in stopping the Premier League’s most irresistible force, however, especially with so much at stake for the visitors.
West Ham 0-3 Liverpool