Fresh after an entertaining 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, West Ham United are gearing up for another Premier League outing this weekend.
The Hammers are heading to Anfield for a dreaded showdown against Premier League champions-elect Liverpool.
West Ham are hoping to snap a four-game winless streak (D2, L2) that has seen them alternate between defeat and a draw.
The streak started with a 1-0 loss at home to Newcastle United last month. After last weekend’s draw with Bournemouth, the odds are firmly stacked against the Hammers ahead of their trip to Liverpool.
However, there may not be a better time for Graham Potter’s side to square off with the Reds, with Arne Slot’s troops coming into this game reeling from a shocking 3-2 defeat against Fulham.
West Ham have nothing left to play for this season so the focus will be on ending a frustrating campaign on a high but even that seems like a bridge too far for Potter and his hapless troops.
How West Ham could line-up
Potter could make two changes to the side that dropped two points from a winning position against Bournemouth last time out, with Emerson and Carlos Soler likely coming into the team.
The Englishman has confirmed that he expects to be working with an identical squad but there are a couple of question marks that need to be sorted.
West Ham are sweating over the fitness of Niclas Fullkrug, who just returned from a lengthy lay-off.
The German striker trained with the team on Friday, so he should be fit enough to face Liverpool. But he’d likely start the game on the bench, with Potter keen to manage his fitness carefully.
Jarrod Bowen – who has been involved in six of West Ham’s last seven goals versus Liverpool – may continue in the number nine slot if Fullkrug is left out.
Meanwhile, the Hammers will be without Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio, and Crysencio Summerville.
Predicted XI:
(4-2-3-1): Alphonse Areola; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Emerson Palmieri; Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse; Mohammed Kudus, Carlos Soler, Lucas Paqueta; Jarrod Bowen.